Kentucky Wildcats vs. Tennessee Volunteers Betting Odds, Picks, and Preview
Kentucky Wildcats vs. Tennessee Volunteers Betting Odds, Picks, and Preview
Both Tennessee and No. 18 Kentucky are riding two-game losing streaks into Week 10, but apart from this similarity on form, these two programs are headed in opposite directions. The Volunteers are 2-3 in SEC play after dropping games to Mississippi and Alabama in recent weeks. Kentucky’s coming off back-to-back losses to Georgia and Miss State, slipping to a 4-2 record in the SEC.
Curiously, books opened with Kentucky tipped as the small 1.5-point home chalk. Although the needle shot up to a high of -3 at several sportsbooks following an early lean towards the Wildcats for early NCAAF picks, it’s still interesting to note the market’s starting point.
Kentucky vs. Tennessee Week 10 College Football Betting Odds, Picks, and Preview
Date: Saturday, November 6, 2021Start Time: 7 PM ESTLocation: Kroger Field, Lexington, KYTV Coverage: ESPN2Tennessee Volunteers (4-4-0 SU, 3-5-0 ATS) Kentucky Wildcats (6-2-0 SU, 6-2-0 ATS)
Click Here For Kentucky vs. Tennessee Odds
Tennessee Volunteers Preview
Tennessee lost to Alabama 54-24 at the weekend, but the Volunteers made a fight of it for the better part of three quarters before the Crimson Tide rolled to the lopsided victory.
The final score doesn’t tell the story, nor does it do justice to the Vols’ spirited display in the face of one of the best teams in college football history this side of the century. Reaction to the game was widely positive afterward, underscoring Tennessee’s spirit, fight and heart in the loss.
The Vols started brightly and took the 14-7 lead in the first quarter. The defense played a big part early on, too, keeping the game close until a wild fourth quarter saw the Tide raise their intensity and tempo and outscore the Vols 28-7.
Quarterback Hendon Hooker, coming off a leg injury that forced him out of the Ole Miss game, had stretches of good play, and save for one interception, he put together a respectable account. Hooker finished 19 of 28 for 292 yards and three touchdowns. However, the Vols offense lacks depth, skill, and quality to challenge the elite teams, and that was evident in the final stanza of what proved to be a total mismatch.
Kentucky Wildcats Preview
Kentucky’s six-game winning streak to start the season stalled in Week 7 when it suffered its first defeat, a 30-13 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs in the battle for first place in the SEC.
The final score belies the real disparity between these SEC rivals. Kentucky scored a late touchdown to trim its margin of defeat, and by doing so, the Wildcats snuck in a backdoor cover for their backers as the 21.5-point road underdogs.
Most recently, the Wildcats lost to Mississippi State 31-17, but this time around, they failed to whiff at the closing 1-point spread. It was nowhere near being close to market expectations.Whether this was the result of a letdown after losing to Georgia is debatable. However, the Wildcats had a Week 8 bye, which likely factored in the lackluster account.
The Wildcats were up 10-0 in the first quarter, putting up a couple of quick scores early to take the lead. But it dissipated soon after as they allowed Mississippi State to score 31 unanswered points.Quarterback Will Levis’ three interceptions factored in the outcome, but so too was the overall poor performance across all three facets of the game. The Wildcats simply didn’t play well enough to win the game.
Kentucky vs. Tennessee Odds and Line Movement
| Team | Moneyline | ML Implied Probability | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | +100 | 50% | +1 (-110) | O 57 (-105) |
| Kentucky | -110 | 52.4% | -1 (-110) | U 57 (+100) |
The college football line for this pivotal showdown is all over the shop, with some books showing the Kentucky Wildcats at -1 and others as high as -3. The total opened on 56.5 points, but with the public leaning towards the over in the early market, it has jumped up to 57 points with many shops.
Kentucky vs. Tennessee Betting Picks and Prediction
The results in the last few weeks have had a great impact on the market’s outlook for this game and the public’s perception of both these teams. So it’s no wonder the odds are oscillating between 1 and 3 points on the board right now.
At face value, the Wildcats have the supposed advantage over the Volunteers. Still, since the recent form is unpredictable within each camp, a separate argument can be made either way in the betting. Thus, it’s a toss-up for picks.
Waiting to see how the lines and odds move during the week is an option to consider here, too, depending on which way you’re slicing this game. This might be a good strategy if you’re looking to grab the points with the Vols and hoping for a better number later in the week. However, line moves are impossible to predict. Whether they go up or down depends on the volume of betting and bookmakers balancing the action. So, tread carefully if this is your strategy.
Otherwise, if you can still find the Wildcats as low as -1 at home to Tennessee, it’s worth the tickle. Up until a few weeks ago, the Wildcats were riding high in SEC play. They can easily be forgiven for a few deflating accounts after the setback they suffered in the battle for first place. With another week to refocus, Kentucky should be poised for a comeback at home. Don’t be surprised if this is Kentucky’s proverbial get-right game.
Kentucky vs. Tennessee Pick: Kentucky -1 (-110)
Nikki Adams is a freelance sports writer that’s honed in on the world of sports betting. She joined OddsChecker in 2021 after having covered a number of major American sports, including NFL and NCAAF, for several other publications in the industry. When she’s not looking for the best betting angles and writing engaging and insightful articles, she’s likely on a tennis court or binging on reality TV.