Tennessee vs Kentucky Prediction: Can Tennessee Stay Undefeated at Home?

Tennessee vs Kentucky Prediction: Can Tennessee Stay Undefeated at Home?

We wish this was football but sadly it isn't as there is no football for a while. But, tonight the state of Tennessee will be rocking like it never has because we have #4 Kentucky coming into Tennessee to play the 16th ranked Volunteers.

This game will be on ESPN for all of our viewing pleasures. We also hope that it won't have the same outcome or be a blowout like the first meeting when Kentucky won 107-79 at home exactly one month ago.

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Tennessee vs Kentucky Prediction

Kentucky hasn't lost many games this year (4) and they are currently on a six-game winning streak as they have not lost since they played #1 Auburn on the road. The road has not been great for the Wildcats this year as they started the season losing to Duke on a neutral court, at Notre Dame and two SEC road losses at LSU and the mentioned Auburn loss recently.

Kentucky goes on the road again tonight into one of the most hostile environments there is. Tennessee is taking this game very seriously because of what happened in January as they lost by 28 points to this team. First off, the word is TyTy Washington will not play tonight as he sprained his ankle against Florida.

TyTy was huge last game as he scored 28 against the Vols and without him and his 12.8 a game would be crucial. But, forget TyTy what this team did in the last game is something that is very hard to duplicate and Tennessee has become a different team since that day winning every game but a one-point loss to a very good ranked Texas team.

Kentucky shot 68% from the field, 61% from the 3 point line, and 95% from the free throw line all the best they have had all year in one game. Kentucky scored 107 points on a defense that gives up 63 a game and hadn't given up more than 79 all year.

Kentucky is a great offense, a top 10 offense averaging over 81 a game and shooting 49% on the year but what they did on January 15 is very rare. Just look at the next game they shot 36% from the field, 22% from three and 69% from the free throw line.

The drop is incredible in all three categories in fact they have only shot over 50% once since that game against an awful South Carolina team. We expect Kentucky to not shoot anywhere close to 68% or 58% and maybe not even 48% tonight and that is why the total for this game is even less than the first one. 

Tennessee is as hot as anyone as we said since the Kentucky game they have lost once to a ranked Texas team by one in a game that was as ugly offensively as it gets. All seven of their wins since have been by seven or more so they are focused and most important this game is at home where they are 13-0 and play a lot better than they do on the road clearly.

We also notice that in the last four years these teams have split the regular season every year and should do it again this year. Tennessee shot 53% and lost by 28. You don't say that often. Tennessee is built on the 3 headed guard lineup led by Santiago Vescovi and Kennedy Chandler and they play great defense, pass the ball, and even though they don't really have anyone over 6'8 who plays they are top 100 offensively and defensively in rebounding.

The Bottom line, this team was embarrassed, Kentucky played their best game of the year against them. Both teams are battling for second in the SEC unless Auburn falters and both have tough schedules with ranked teams coming up but this game has been circled on Rick Barnes schedule for a month and we think they will find a way to stop Oscar Tshiebwe again and this time there won't be a TyTy going off.

Revenge is always sweet, when it means as much as this game does it would be even sweeter. The first game was a rarity and this game will not be a blowout, it will be a very close game where turnovers, fouls, and second chance opportunities will decide the game.

Just a fun fact but Kentucky has only covered once all year on a Tuesday and since the Tennessee game, they haven't covered back to back and they just covered against Florida. If Kentucky does what they did a month ago we will lose but the odds are not in their favor so we will take Tennessee to get the sweet revenge and play that defense they are known for and win in front of a raucous crowd at home. We are going to lay the -1 at home tonight as Tennessee goes for 14-0 at home on ESPN.

Tennessee vs Kentucky Line Movement

Tennessee vs Kentucky Pick

• Tennessee -1 -110 (Bet $110 to win $100)