Tennessee basketball travels to Fayetteville on Saturday afternoon to open up SEC play against No. 18 Arkansas at Bud Walton Arena. The Vols have won three straight SEC openers including last years against the Razorbacks in Knoxville.
Here’s everything to know about the matchup from the broadcast details to the betting odds and much more.
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How to Watch — No. 19 Tennessee (10-3, 0-0 SEC) at No. 18 Arkansas (10-3, 0-0 SEC)
- Start Time: 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT
- Location: Bud Walton Arena
- Watch: ESPN2. PxP: Karl Ravech, CC: Jimmy Dykes
- Online Streaming: WatchESPN
- Radio (Knoxville): The Vol Network/The Vol Network App
- Vol Network radio crew: PxP: Mike Keith, CC: John Wilkerson
Betting Odds
- Arkansas -1.5 Tennessee
- Over/under 156.5
- Arkansas -1 Tennessee
- Over/under 157
Probable Starters
Tennessee (via UT Game Notes):
Arkansas (via last game):
Tennessee:
- AP Poll: No. 19
- Coaches Poll: No. 20
- KenPom: No. 14
- Bart Torvik: No. 14
- EvanMiya: No. 15
Arkansas
- AP Poll: No. 18
- Coaches Poll: No. 18
- KenPom: No. 27
- Bart Torvik: No. 24
- EvanMiya: No. 24
Team Stats (via KenPom)
Tennessee:
Arkansas:
Stat Leaders
Tennessee:
Points: Ja’Kobi Gillespie — 17.8 PPG, 43 FG%, 35 3PT%
Rebounds: Jaylen Carey — 6.9 RPG, 3.7 DRPG, 3.2 ORPG
Assists: Ja’Kobi Gillespie — 5.8 APG, 2.5 TOPG, 31.2 MPG
Arkansas:
Points: Darius Acuff — 18.8 PPG, 49.4 FG%, 44.3 3PT%
Rebounds: Trevon Brazile — 7 RPG, 5.6 DRPG, 1.4 ORPG
Assists: Darius Acuff — 6.2 APG, 1.9 TOPG, 32.5 MPG
Last Five Games
Tennessee:
- 105-54 win versus South Carolina State
- 94-52 win versus Gardner-Webb
- 83-62 win versus Louisville
- 75-62 loss versus Illinois (Nashville)
- 62-60 loss at Syracuse
Arkansas:
- 103-74 win versus James Madison
- 94-85 loss against Houston (Newark)
- 108-80 win versus Queens
- 93-86 win versus Texas Tech
- 82-58 win versus Fresno State
Prediction
This is the most that I’ve wrestled with a prediction all season. Arkansas is also an elite offensive team. They’re going to test Tennessee’s defense in a major way with their guard play and ability to push the ball in transition. They also have a handful of players who should be good matchups to slow down Nate Ament.
But I honestly really like the matchup for Tennessee. Arkansas has been pretty soft in the interior this season. They have not been a good rebounding team or good at protecting the rim. Those areas that Tennessee would be able to exploit.
The fact that this game is in Bud Walton Arena is what I just can’t get over. Home court advantage is such a big deal in college basketball. Arkansas has one of the SEC’s bets home court advantages. Tennessee also struggled in its first road game of the season at Syracuse. The Razorbacks win a nail biter.
Arkansas 76, Tennessee 75
