Free NCAA Hoops Pick: Volunteers vs. Wildcats CBB Odds
Looking for Tennessee Volunteers vs. Kentucky Wildcats NCAA basketball free picks & CBB odds? CBB betting sees the Volunteers taking on the Wildcats on Saturday, February 18th at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all college basketball matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NCAA basketball predictions like this Volunteers Wildcats matchup.
2023 NCAA Basketball Handicapping Volunteers vs. Kentucky
- (20-6) Tennessee Volunteers vs. Kentucky Wildcats (17-9)
- Date: Saturday, February 18th
- Time: 1:00 ET
- Venue: Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
- CBB Moneyline Odds: Volunteers N/A | Wildcats N/A
- NCAAB Betting ATS Odds: Tennessee -2 | Kentucky +2 (Bet Now!)
- CBB Betting Total: O/U 135.5
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Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee are losers in 2 of their last 3 and 3 of their last 5. They’ve officially hit the bumpiest part of their schedule and now pull a road game at Kentucky.
Before we panic, the Vols actually just took down #1 Alabama in Knoxville. They’re an incredible defense, ranking in the top-5 in almost every significant stat.
So why are most people selling? The offense has struggled for the most part during their 5 game stretch. Typically, a 46 point output, win or lose, will have cappers concerned.
Tennessee will head into a raucous environment in Lexington, and they’re just a pedestrian 3-3 ATS as road favorites, covering by an average of 1.7 points.
Volunteers Defense
Anyways, back to this elite defense.
KenPom ranks Tennessee as the #1 defense and they lead the country in defensive efficiency. Also, opponents are averaging just 56.4 ppg (2nd) against the Vols.
Even more ridiculous, they average (!) 8.8 steals per game.
It’s difficult to overstate just how dominant this unit is.
Kentucky Wildcats
As good as Tennessee has been, Kentucky already deposed them in Knoxville in a 63-56 win. Oscar Tshiebwe dominated the glass and Austin Reeves kicked in 18 points. That’s likely going to be Kentucky’s plan moving forward.
To add on to the point, the Wildcats offense has actually been solid. Offensive efficiency metrics place Kentucky 32nd, and that will be needed to crack the Tennessee defense.
Kentucky adopted and perfected the one-and-done strategy before anyone else, but they don’t have that kind of team this year. Coaching, mainly adjustments, are going to determine who comes out on top.
Wildcats Key Stats
John Calipari’s Wildcats rank a mere 40th overall in KenPom, in contrast with their opponent who sits 4th. Usually such gaps lead to bigger spreads, but homecourt is being counted on here.
Tshiebwe and his battery mates have posted the 23rd most rebounds per game this year.
Rupp Arena has seen UK go 12-3 SU but have not beat a ranked opponent this season.
We want to hear from you below! Give us your picks for this Tennessee Volunteers vs. Kentucky Wildcats NCAA basketball matchup.
Tennessee Volunteers vs. Kentucky Wildcats CBB Betting Trends
- Tennessee is 3-3 ATS as a road favorite
- Kentucky is just 7-8 ATS at home, failing to cover by an average of 4 points
- Tennessee is 10-16 to the over, failing to cover by 5.7 points on average
- Kentucky is 17-9 to the over, covering by an average of 2.4 points
Free Tennessee Volunteers vs. Kentucky Wildcats CBB Betting Pick:
Free Spread Prediction: Tennessee -2
Free Tennessee Volunteers vs. Kentucky Wildcats Betting Pick: u135.5
Tennessee’s defense is too hard to ignore in this spot. I do worry a bit about the homecourt, but that’s why I’m leaning the under. While the Vols are elite, Kentucky can feed off the crowd energy, which equates to defensive stops.
High adrenaline games like this take a lot of energy out, which is going to slow down offenses as well.
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