On Wednesday, February 14 at 9:00 PM ET, the eighth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers (17-6) will face the Arkansas Razorbacks (12-11) in a thrilling SEC matchup at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas. ZenSports Tennessee sportsbook lists the Volunteers as moderate favorites, currently displaying a point spread at -8.5 (-112).
When: February 14, 2024 at 9:00 PM ET
Where: Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas
Watch: ESPN2
Tennessee Volunteers Preview
The Vols had a less than stellar performance against the Texas A&M Aggies in their previous encounter, resulting in an 85-69 loss. As a result, it ended in their two-game winning streak which included wins against an exciting Kentucky Wildcats team.
A strong performance by Dalton Knecht is expected here and will be needed if they want a shot at winning. He averages 20.3 points, shoots 47.7 percent from the field, and connects on 76.6 percent of his free throws a game to make him a threat to the Razorbacks’ defense.
The Vols are putting up 79.5 points each game and rank 56th in the nation for that output. They move the ball well to find scoring opportunities with 17.0 assists per game. Their efficiency with the ball on offense ranks 52nd, with a rating of 113.0.
On defense, they allow 68.0 points per game, ranking 80th. They accumulate 4.8 blocks and 8.0 steals, making them a tough team to play against. Their efficiency on this end of the court ranks 45th, with a rating of 96.6.
Arkansas Razorbacks Preview
The Razorbacks are 2-3 over their previous five games, but might have enough positive momentum to give the Vols a run for their money at home. They are coming off a 78-75 victory over the Georgia Bulldogs, where they made 57.1 percent of their shots from the field.
Tramon Mark is a big reason they are successful on offense. He leads the Razorbacks with 17.6 points, shoots 51.4 percent from the field, and is a potential threat late in the game with his 78.5 percent accuracy at the foul line.
The Razorbacks put up 76.0 points each game and are currently ranked 122nd in the nation. Their ball movement is much less appealing in comparison to the Vols, with just 11.4 assists a game. Their efficiency in developing scoring opportunities ranks 229th, with a rating of 104.3.
Their defense is not much better, as they are allowing 77.8 points each game and rank 324th. They do a solid job in getting 6.5 blocks and 5.7 steals each game, which shows they can potentially make key stops at the rim. They are not quite efficient on the defensive end, with a rating of 106.8 that ranks 277th.
Betting Odds
ZenSports Tennessee sportsbook gives Tennessee sports bettors the best chances at success. The Tennessee Volunteers are moderately favored with an 86.8 percent likelihood per market analysis.
Arkansas Razorbacks: +310
Spread: +8.5 (-110)
Tennessee Volunteers: -450
Spread: -8.5 (-116)
Total Points: Over 151.0 (-114), Under 151.0 (-112)
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