On Saturday, January 17, the No. 24 Tennessee Volunteers will face off against the Kentucky Wildcats in a highly anticipated SEC matchup. Both teams are looking to capitalize on their recent mid-week victories as they continue to navigate a competitive conference season.
Quick context
The Volunteers have an overall record of 12-5, while the Wildcats stand at 11-6. Last season, Kentucky swept the regular-season series against Tennessee, but the Vols avenged those losses with a decisive 78-65 victory in the 2025 Sweet 16. As the SEC heats up, both teams are striving for momentum after starting the conference season at 2-2.
Game details
Tipoff is set for noon ET from Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tennessee. Recent betting odds show Tennessee as 5.5-point favorites, with an over/under of 147.5 points, which has risen two points from the opening line. This matchup is drawing considerable attention from bettors, and insights from the SportsLine Projection Model could influence decisions on wagers.
Betting insights
The SportsLine Projection Model has simulated the game 10,000 times and has shown a strong tendency to favor the total going over 147.5 points. Notably, five consecutive games for Tennessee have cleared this total, and on the season, the team has gone 11-6 to the over. Historical matchups between Tennessee and Kentucky indicate that three of the past five encounters have resulted in at least 148 combined points.
Key players to watch include Ja’Kobi Gillespie, who is averaging 19.2 points for Tennessee, and Otega Oweh, leading Kentucky with 17.2 points per game. The model projects a combined total of 154 points, highlighting the strong potential for the over to hit 71% of the time.
What’s at stake
With both teams eager to improve their conference records, the outcome of this game could significantly impact their standings within the SEC. Additionally, the stakes are high for individual players looking to showcase their talents ahead of future opportunities. Betting on this game will reflect the ongoing interest in college basketball as both teams approach the mid-point of the season.
Consider following the insights available on SportsLine, which can provide guidance on which side of the spread might yield better returns, based on the model’s performance that suggests nearly 60% accuracy in predicting the winning side.
Original source: Open the source
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