College Basketball Preview: Tennessee Volunteers vs. Florida Gators

The top-ranked Tennessee Volunteers (14-0) have a tough matchup against the eighth-ranked Florida Gators (13-1) on Tuesday, January 7 at 7:00 PM ET at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida. For this college basketball betting opportunity, the Gators are favored at BetAnySports to win with a point spread at -1.5 (-120).

Tennessee Volunteers Betting Preview

The Vols look to extend their winning streak after having a successful performance over the Arkansas Razorbacks in their last battle. This was a 76-52 outing, which marked a tie for the best start in the program’s history (of 14-0).

They came out with a strong 42-27 performance in the first half and were able to coast in the second. Chaz Lanier led with 27 points on 50 percent shooting, while Igor Milicic Jr. snagged 18 rebounds.

Their effort on offense was strong, as they shot 39.1 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from deep. They held the Razorbacks to 37.7 percent shooting and just 20.7 percent from long range. Also, they won the rebounding battle of 51 boards compared to 29 for the Razorbacks.

The Vols are averaging 79.8 points per game and are making 48.1 percent of their shots. Defensively they are holding teams to 55.9 points a game, which sets up a large margin of victory.

Florida Gators Betting Preview

The Gators’ 13-game win streak came to an end in their latest matchup. This was a 106-100 defeat against the 10th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats, where they were down by 10 at the half.

This game could have gone to either team, as they stacked up well on paper. Walter Clayton Jr. led with 33 points and five assists, while Alijah Martin was right behind him with 26 points.

Both teams shot at least 55 percent from the field, but the Wildcats made 48.3 percent from deep and the Gators shot 36.4 percent. They turned it over nine times and forced the Wildcats to have six. They will need to take better care of the basketball.

The Gators are producing 88.3 points per game and connect on 47.8 percent of their shots. On defense they are holding opponents to 66.5 points per game. This is an exciting spread, but they cannot allow opposing teams to get hot from beyond the arc again.

Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick

BetAnySports has the Tennessee Volunteers vs. Florida Gators betting odds available, with the Gators as slim 1.5-point favorites. Looking at market insights, the Vols have a 54.7 percent chance of winning this battle.

This battle will come down to who makes the most significant plays down the stretch. The Vols have played excellent, but they might have their hands full here. The Vols should be able to cover the spread.

Final Pick: Tennessee Volunteers +1.5 (+100)