Tennessee vs Florida Odds & Picks Today: Vols Defend No. 1 Spot

Two heavyweights in the country’s best college basketball conference clash Tuesday night when the undefeated Tennessee Volunteers visit the Florida Gators in Gainesville. The nation’s only remaining unbeaten team, No. 1 Tennessee is a 2.5-point underdog at Sportsbook against an eighth-ranked Gators squad that suffered its first loss this past weekend at Kentucky.

Both teams have been excellent ATS options this far, compiling 10-4 marks against the number. Tennessee, 14-0 overall, covered in seven of its first eight, and has split its last six. Florida, 13-1 overall, has trended in the opposite direction—the Gators covered in only two of their first six games, but have since scored ATS victories in eight of their last nine.

Tennessee vs Florida Odds Today

Tennessee vs Florida, January 7, 7:00 pm ET

Odds as of January 7 at Sportsbook

Tennessee vs Florida Picks Today

Tennessee +2.5 (-110) & OVER 147.5 (-115) both at Sportsbook

The Volunteers have rampaged through the first half of the season, winning by an average of 23.9 points per game. Three of their four ATS losses thus far have come against large point spreads in games against small-conference opponents. Against quality competition, they’ve been excellent—Tennessee thrashed resurgent Louisville on the road, beat Illinois at the buzzer in Champaign, covered as a 4.5-point favorite over Baylor in the Bahamas, and last weekend covered as a 11.5-point home favorite over Arkansas.

Florida doesn’t have quite that resume. Six of the Gators’ 10 covers thus far have come in games where they were a double-digit favorite. The only Top 25 opponent Florida has played thus far was Kentucky, which covered as a 3.5-point home favorite in a 106-100 victory. The Gators’ best wins thus far are over Arizona State and Wake Forest, neither of which looks like an NCAA tournament squad at the moment.

Florida has quality scorers in point guard Walter Clayton Jr. (who put up 33 against Kentucky) and wing Alijah Martin (formerly of FAU’s Final Four team). The Gators are one of the few teams in America that can truly match up with Tennessee’s dynamic guard tandem of Chaz Lanier and Zakai Zeigler. But they were also completely exposed on the defensive end against Kentucky, which doesn’t bode well against a Vols team that can do it all at both ends of the floor.

Defense has been coach Rick Barnes’ calling card at Tennessee, and it’s evident in a stifling unit that allows an average of just 55.9 points per game and has gone UNDER in eight of its last 10. Florida, though, presents the best opposing offense Tennessee has faced thus far. The Gators will get their points, and the Vols will get more against a vulnerable Florida defense, pushing the edge to the OVER.

Tennessee vs Florida News

Volunteers forward J.P. Estrella is out for the season after having foot surgery in late November, according to the Knoxville News-Sentinel, which also reported that reserve guard Jahmai Mashack is playing with an injury to his left pinky finger. Florida had no players listed on the injury report for its most recent game against Kentucky.

Tennessee vs Florida Prop Bet Today

Chaz Lanier OVER 19.5 points (-125) at Sportsbook

The Vols may be best known for their defense, but Lanier has emerged as an offensive force—he scored 29 last weekend against Arkansas, has hit for 23 or more in three straight games, and posted 22 or more in seven of his last 10. He’ll have the opportunity for another big night against a suspect Florida defense that allowed 23 points over the weekend to Kentucky guard Koby Brea.

Tennessee vs Florida Betting Trends