Tennessee basketball is back in action Saturday night when they face rival Alabama in Knoxville. The Vols are looking to complete the regular season sweep of Alabama and win their sixth straight in the rivalry series.
Here’s everything to know about the matchup from the broadcast details to the betting odds and much more.
More From RTI: Where Tennessee Basketball Lands In Bracketology Projections Ahead Of Alabama Game
How to Watch — No. 22 Tennessee (20-8, 10-5 SEC) at Missouri (18-9, 8-6 SEC)
- Start Time: 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT
- Location: Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center
- Watch: ESPN. 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: Chris Lofton
Betting Odds
- Tennessee -5.5 Alabama
- Over/under 163
- Tennessee -4 Alabama
- Over/under: 164
Probable Starters
Tennessee (via UT Game Notes):
Alabama (via last game starters):
*Labaron Philon missed the Mississippi State game due to illness but is expected to return against Tennessee
Where They Land In The Rankings
Tennessee:
- AP Poll: No. 22
- Coaches Poll: No. 22
- KenPom: No. 20
- Bart Torvik: No. 17
- EvanMiya: No. 17
Alabama:
- AP Poll: No. 17
- Coaches Poll: N0.18
- KenPom: No. 19
- Bart Torvik: No. 19
- EvanMiya: No. 19
Team Stats (via KenPom)
Tennessee:
Alabama:
Stat Leaders
Tennessee:
Points: Ja’Kobi Gillespie — 18.1 PPG, 41.2 FG%, 35.1 3PT%
Rebounds: Nate Ament — 6.5 RPG, 4.9 DRPG, 1.6 ORPG
Assists: Ja’Kobi Gillespie — 5.3 APG, 2.3 TOPG, 34.1 MPG
Alabama:
Points: Labaron Philon — 21.3 PPG, 50.3 FG%, 38.7 3PT%
Rebounds: Amari Allen — 7.5 RPG, 5.8 DRPG, 1.7 ORPG
Assists: Labaron Philon — 5 APG, 2.7 TOPG, 30.2 MPG
Last Five Games
Tennessee:
- 73-69 loss at Missouri
- 69-65 win at Vanderbilt
- 89-66 win versus Oklahoma
- 73-63 win versus LSU
- 73-64 win at Mississippi State
Alabama:
- 100-75 win versus Mississippi State
- 90-83 win at LSU
- 117-115 win versus Arkansas (20T)
- 89-75 win versus South Carolina
- 93-74 win at Ole Miss
Prediction
Tennessee has had Alabama’s number as of late, and Nate Oats has made that a point of emphasis to his team this week. The Crimson Tide are healthier then they were a month ago when Tennessee won in Tuscaloosa. Aden Holloway is a big boost but Amari Allen is the true game changer. He will make Nate Ament’s life much more difficult than it was in the first meeting.
JP Estrella feels like such a key in this game. Alabama’s interior defense is shaky and Estrella has the ability to produce inside. But he struggled mightily in his first game back from injury earlier this week against Missouri.
Alabama simply does not force turnovers. Tennessee can’t beat themselves by committing silly turnovers. If they take care of the ball and control the glass, they should defend home court. But the spread feels a bit too big to me.
Tennessee 77, Alabama 74
