Saturday brings a jam-packed slate of SEC action in college basketball, and a high-profile matchup will take place in Knoxville. The No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers welcome the Alabama Crimson Tide for the fifth SEC game of the season on both sides. Alabama is 4-0 in conference play and 12-5 overall this season. Tennessee is 13-4 overall and 3-1 in SEC action, including back-to-back wins before this contest.
For this game, SportsLine consensus lists the Volunteers as 5-point favorites, and tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 159.5 in the latest Alabama vs. Tennessee odds. Before making any Tennessee vs. Alabama picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions from SportsLine's proven model.
The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters Week 11 of the 2023-24 season on a 110-73 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning more than $2,000 for $100 players. It is also off to a sizzling 15-5 start on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen huge returns.
The model has set its sights on Tennessee vs. Alabama. You can head to SportsLine now to see the picks. Now here are the latest betting trends and lines for Alabama vs. Tennessee:
- Alabama vs. Tennessee spread: Tennessee -5.5
- Alabama vs. Tennessee over/under: 159.5 points
- Alabama vs. Tennessee money line: Tennessee -238, Alabama +194
- Alabama: The Crimson Tide are 10-7 against the spread this season
- Tennessee: The Volunteers are 7-9-1 against the spread this season
- Alabama vs. Tennessee picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Alabama can cover
Alabama's offense is arguably the best in the nation. The Crimson Tide lead the country in offensive efficiency, scoring 125.2 points per 100 possessions to begin the 2023-24 season. Alabama also has an elite shooting profile, including top-five national marks in 3-point accuracy (39.7%) and 3-pointers (11.7 per game). The Crimson Tide are also in the top 15 of the nation in 2-point accuracy (57.8%) and free throw accuracy (78.6%), with Alabama also securing 35.1% of available offensive rebounds this season.
Alabama averages 23.4 free throw attempts per game, well above the national average, and senior guard Mark Sears is currently leading the SEC in scoring. Sears is averaging 19.6 points per game while shooting 53.3% from the field and 47.8% from 3-point distance. On the other end, Alabama is also rock-solid, holding opponents to 42.4% shooting from the field and 31.5% from 3-point range this season. The Crimson Tide have strong block and steal rates, and Alabama is above-average in defensive rebound rate (71.6%). See who to back at SportsLine.
Why Tennessee can cover
Tennessee's defense is unquestionably elite. After leading the country in defensive efficiency last season, Rick Barnes' team is near the top of the nation again in 2023-24. Opponents are scoring only 0.93 points per possession against Tennessee, and the Volunteers make life miserable for opposing shooters. Tennessee is allowing 37.4% shooting from the field and 41.9% shooting from 2-point range, ranking in the top five nationally in both categories. Opponents are also shooting only 30.3% from 3-point range, and Tennessee has a 13.4% block rate to go along with an 11.3% steal rate and an 18.7% turnover creation rate.
Tennessee is giving up fewer than 11 assists per game, and the Vols are securing 72.1% of available defensive rebounds this season. In addition to the fantastic defense, Tennessee has a tremendous home-court advantage. The Volunteers are unbeaten in Knoxville this season, out-scoring opponents by more than 20 points per game. That includes an uptick on defense, with opponents scoring fewer than 59 points per game at home. See who to back at SportsLine.
How to make Alabama vs. Tennessee picks
The model has simulated this matchup 10,000 times and the results are in. The model is leaning Under the total, and it also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations. You can only see the picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Tennessee vs. Alabama, and which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that is on a 110-73 roll on its top-ranked college basketball picks, and find out.
