The Florida Gators (11-5) head to Knoxville and take on the sixth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers (12-4) for an appealing college basketball betting matchup on Tuesday, January 16 at 5:00 PM ET. ZenSports Tennessee sportsbook has the Volunteers as 9.5-point favorites (-121) to succeed. 

When: January 16, 2024 at 5:00 PM ET

Where: Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee

Watch: ESPN2

Florida Gators Preview

The Gators are aiming to prove themselves in hopes of a big upset in the SEC, as well as defeating a top-10 team in the country. They have some positive momentum coming into this matchup, with a recent 90-68 blowout win over the Arkansas Razorbacks and Riley Kugel shining with 20 points.

The gators have several players on their roster that can put up double-digit performances consistently each night. One play to keep an eye on is Walter Clayton Jr., who is averaging 15.9 points per game and leading their offense.

The Gators rank ninth in the nation in scoring with 86.4 points per game and are able to connect on 46.6 percent of their shot attempts. They rank 35th in their efficiency with the ball on offense with a rating of 114.7.

On defense, the Gators are allowing 76.0 points to opposing teams each game, which ranks 292nd in the nation. Their efficiency in getting defensive stops ranks 160th, with a rating of 100.9.

Tennessee Volunteers Preview

The Volunteers were able to bounce back with a win after a previous defeat (77-72 to Mississippi State Bulldogs) two games back. This was another tough matchup in SEC play, as they narrowly defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 85-79.

They have a variety of options for scoring, but mainly utilize Dalton Knecht (17.2 PPG, 4.2 REB) as their weapon of choice offensively. He has had five games over 20 points and two total that have been over 35.

The Volunteers average 78.7 points per game and rank 82nd in the country for their effort. They shoot 44.2 percent from the field and average slightly more assists (17.1) than the Gators put up (16.0) each game. Their efficiency with the basketball ranks 91st, as they have a rating of 111.1.

Defensively, the Gators do well in slowing teams down to 66.0 points a game and rank 60th nationally. They also rank 27th overall in their efficiency on defense, with a rating of 93.2. If they can control the tempo and force the Gators to make mistakes, this could get out of hand early and bode well for the Volunteers.

Betting Odds

ZenSports Tennessee sportsbook offers great betting odds for this college basketball showdown. At the moment, the Tennessee Volunteers are heavy favorites to find success at home. Their probability of winning is at 83.4 percent, according to market insights.

Florida Gators: +330

Spread: +9.5 (-114)

Tennessee Volunteers: -549

Spread: -9.5 (-121)

Total Points: Over 159.0 (-120), Under 159.0 (-115)

Photo Credit: © Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports