The Tennessee Volunteers take on the Ole Miss Rebels in Oxford, MS. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Tennessee is favored by 2.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -135. The total is set at 139.5 points.
Here are my Tennessee vs. Ole Miss predictions and college basketball picks for March 5, 2025.
Tennessee vs Ole Miss Prediction
My Pick: Under 138.5 (Play to 137)
My Tennessee vs Ole Miss best bet is on the under, with the best odds currently available at DraftKings. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Tennessee vs Ole Miss Odds, Lines
| Tennessee Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -105 | 139.5 -110o / -110u | -135 |
| Ole Miss Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -115 | 139.5 -110o / -110u | +115 |
- Tennessee vs Ole Miss spread: Tennessee -2.5
- Tennessee vs Ole Miss over/under: 139.5 points
- Tennessee vs Ole Miss moneyline: Tennessee -135, Ole Miss +115
- Tennessee vs Ole Miss best bet: Under 138.5 (Play to 137)
My Tennessee vs Ole Miss NCAAB Betting Preview
The Tennessee Volunteers are coming off their biggest win of the season on Saturday night in Knoxville, where Jahmai Mashack hit a dramatic buzzer-beater 3 to knock off the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Now, the Vols will head to Oxford, Mississippi, to take on the Ole Miss Rebels.
This is a dream letdown spot, and while it might make sense to fade Tennessee after its dramatic win, I'd argue that this isn't the matchup to do so.
There are many areas where the Vols can expose Chris Beard's team, so the spread won't be on my priority list.
However, I'll still fade the Vols' offense by taking the under.
On the other side, Ole Miss ranks ninth in the SEC in adjusted offensive efficiency, shooting 35% from deep in conference play. I would argue that number is a tad inflated, and I don't think the Rebels will keep that up.
The Vols have also been flirting with disaster all season against the triple due to the volume of shots they give up from beyond the arc. They rank second in the SEC in opponent 3-point percentage, but it's only a matter of time before regression starts to kick in.
With the Rebels being fortunate in that area on the offensive side, it's fair to say we have a wash in this area.
The problem with Ole Miss comes from the rebounding department. This team has been one of the worst units in the SEC on the boards, ranking outside the bottom 12 in conference play in both offensive and defensive rebounding rates.
The Rebels also don't turn the ball over on offense, and the Vols don't force those turnovers. Many would assume that would correlate to a higher-scoring contest, but turnovers often lead to quick transition buckets that don't take time off the clock.
The Vols are among the slowest-paced teams in the nation, ranking 345th in adjusted tempo. The Rebels are an average team in the pace department, but I don't expect a high-paced matchup between these two.
I also like that the Vols are disciplined on defense, rarely allowing their opponents to go to the foul line. Regardless, the Rebels shoot just 73% from the stripe, so I don't expect many cheap points in that area either.
Tennessee has also been a bad offensive team inside the arc, sitting near the bottom of the conference in 2-point percentage.
If the 3s aren't falling, I expect points will be at a premium in what should be a great semi-fade of the Vols on Wednesday night.
