Tennessee vs. LSU Prediction: Can Tennessee Earn an Upset On The Road?

Tennessee vs LSU Prediction: Can Tennessee Earn an Upset On The Road?

The Tennessee Volunteers will head out on the road to take on the LSU Tigers. In the SEC, it's extremely hard to win on the road. Tennessee has already lost to Alabama on the road, although they were shorthanded in that game. Meanwhile, LSU's only road game in the SEC came against Auburn, where LSU ended up losing. Tennessee's most recent game came at home against Ole Miss, where the Volunteers struggled, defeating Ole Miss in overtime. Meanwhile, LSU knocked off Kentucky with a late second-half surge, at home. Will LSU continue its momentum against Tennessee? Here are our picks and predictions for the SEC matchup between the Tennessee Volunteers and the LSU Tigers.

Tennessee vs LSU Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds

Date: Saturday, January 8, 2022

Game Time: 6:00 p.m. ET

Where To Watch: ESPN2

Click here for the latest Tennessee vs. LSU odds

Tennessee vs LSU Injury Report

Tennessee

No Injuries to Report

LSU

Out: Adam Miller G (Knee)

Tennessee vs LSU Prediction

LSU is 13-1 on the season and have had one of the best breakthroughs as a program this season. The Tigers' lone loss came against a red-hot Auburn team and now they're coming off a win against a very good Kentucky team, at home. LSU isn't a basketball school just yet but with the way LSU has played recently, it could become one shortly. The Tigers are the best defensive team in the nation according to KenPom. The Tigers have held opponents to a 41 percent effective field goal percentage while earning 26.5 percent turnovers on the year. On top of that, the Tigers have held opponents to 26.7 percent from long range and 42 percent from inside the arc, all while limiting offensive rebounds to 25.6 percent. The Tigers are always starting out games with a poor offense. So when the offense is inconsistent, at least LSU knows that the defense will always be there. But LSU is now taking on Tennessee, which is the second-best defense in the league according to KenPom. Tennessee has held opponents to an effective field goal percentage of 45.9 percent while securing 25.6 percent turnovers per game this season. The Volunteers have allowed teams to shoot 31.5 percent from long range while holding opponents to under 45 percent from inside the arc. In this game, both defenses are going to be prepared. However, LSU's offense, at home, seems like the better choice between offenses. Tennessee is rarely getting to the line and will have a much harder time making threes against LSU's length. Both teams are capable of earning second-chance buckets and both teams will find themselves in trouble with turnovers due to how great both defenses are at forcing takeaways. So, therefore, I'll take LSU with the short number at -1.5. The home team always has the edge when the game looks close.

Tennessee Volunteers vs LSU Tigers Pick

• PICK: LSU -1.5 (-110)