Tennessee and Vanderbilt face off in an instate rivalry Wednesday to continue to shape the SEC standings. The Volunteers lead the all time series 82-65, and have won 4 of the last 5 matchups head to head.
Tennessee won their last time out at home against Alabama on Saturday by a score of 71-68. Last Saturday (1/12) they beat Florida on the road 78-67, and last Tuesday (1/15) they beat Arkansas 106-87.
The Commodores lost to Mississippi State on Saturday at home by a score of 71-55. Last Saturday (1/12) they lost at Kentucky 56-47, and last Wednesday (1/16) they lost 74-71 to South Carolina at home.
Tennessee is 9-6-1 ATS this season, 3-1 ATS on the road, and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games. Vanderbilt is 6-11 ATS this season, 4-9 ATS at home, and 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games.
Bovada has the Volunteers as 11.5 favourites on the road with an O/U total of 149.
Vanderbilt averages 76.6 PPG, 37.6 RPG, 12.7 APG, 4.4 BPG, and 4.8 SPG, and as a team they shoot 44.6% from the field, 33% from 3, and 69.4% from the free throw line. Defensively, they old opponents to 71 PPG, 41.4% shooting from the field, and 31.3% shooting from the 3 point line. They are led by forward Simi Shittu, who averages 13.6 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.7 SPG, and 0.7 BPG, and shoots 49.7% from the field and 63.6% from the free throw line.
Saben Lee is his best supporting player, and he tallies 12.4 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 3.5 APG, and 0.9 SPG while shooting 44.7% from the field, 23.1% from 3, and 69.9% from the free throw line. Joe Toye (9.6 PPG/3.4 RPG/0.6 SPG), Aaron Nesmith (9.2 PPG/ 5.7 RPG/1.4 APG), and Matt Ryan (9.2 PPG/2.6 RPG/1.1 APG) provide the majority of the remaining production.
Key Injuries
G Darius Garland (ankle) – out
Tennessee averages 86.1 PPG, 39.7 RPG, 20.1 APG, 5.9 BPG, and 5.9 SPG, and as a team they shoot 51.1% from the field, 36.4% from 3, and 75.9% from the free throw line. Defensively, they hold opponents to 66.6 PPG, 38.1% shooting from the field, and 30.5% shooting from 3 point range. They have a well rounded and deep team, led by Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield.
Williams averages 18.9 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.1 SPG, and 1.5 BPG, and shoots 56.1% from the field, 39.1% from 3, and 81.7% from the free throw line. Schofield averages 17.4 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.8 APG, and 0.9 SPG while shooting 50.4% from the field, 45.1% from 3, and 74.3% from the free throw line. Jordan Bone (13.2 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 6.4 APG, 0.7 SPG), Jordan Bowden (10.8 PPG/3.2 RPG/2/7 APG/0.7 SPG), Lamonte Turner (10.5 PPG/2.4 RPG/2.4 APG/1.0 SPG), and Kyle Alexander (9.9 PPG/7.8 RPG/1.9 BPG) all provide big minutes for the Vols as well.
Key Injuries
F Zach Kent (knee) – out
Since losing Darius Garland, the Vanderbilt offense has been stagnant, especially of late, as they are averaging just 61.4 PPG in their last 5 outings. They don’t move the ball particularly well, and lack consistent 3 point shooting. Simi Shittu will have his hands full in the paint with Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield, and he needs to stay out of foul trouble if Vandy has any hopes of staying in this game. Tennessee is also phenomenal on the defensive end, limiting their opponents to under 39% shooting from the field and do a solid job of limiting opponents second chances.
Offensively, Tennessee has plenty of firepower with Williams and Schofield who can each take over a game, as well as a variety of other options to stress opposing defenses. Overall, Tennessee is one of the best teams in the country, and for good reason as they are well rounded offensively and defensively, playing sticky defense and scoring in a variety of ways. They are just too much for a Vanderbilt team to handle that had hoped Darius Garland would shoulder much of the load offensively.
Final Pick: Tennessee (-11.5)
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