Tennessee basketball will be in action this Saturday afternoon as they travel to Nashville to take on rival Vanderbilt. The Volunteers, sporting a record of 19-7 and 9-4 in the Southeastern Conference, are entering this game after winning seven of their past eight outings. Meanwhile, the Commodores, currently ranked 19th, are looking to rebound from a close loss to Missouri earlier this week, holding a record of 21-5 and 8-5 in the SEC.
For those wishing to tune in, the game is set to start at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. CT) at Memorial Gymnasium and can be watched live on ESPN. The broadcast features play-by-play by Dave O’Brien, with commentary from Cory Alexander and Dick Vitale. Fans can also catch the game on the Vol Network via the Vol Network App, with Mike Keith and Chris Lofton handling the radio commentary in Knoxville.
In terms of betting odds, FanDuel Sportsbook has Vanderbilt favored by 3.5 points, with an over/under set at 149.5. KenPom predicts a slightly larger margin, favoring Vanderbilt by 4 points, but maintains the same over/under.
Both teams will be looking to showcase their strengths in what promises to be an intense matchup. Vanderbilt is expected to capitalize on turnovers while Tennessee will aim to dominate the rebounding game. Notably, star guard Duke Miles of Vanderbilt is probable to return after missing time due to a knee injury, which could significantly impact the game’s dynamics.
Recent performances indicate that Tennessee has found a level of consistency, with highlighted victories against teams like Oklahoma and LSU. Conversely, Vanderbilt’s recent games reflect a mix of close matches, emphasizing their competitiveness even in defeat.
This clash not only serves as an important contest for the teams in terms of SEC standings but also provides an opportunity for both to gain momentum as the regular season winds down. With both sides bringing impressive statistics and key players into this rivalry, Saturday’s game is shaping up to be a compelling showdown.