Kentucky Wildcats vs. Tennessee Volunteers Picks and Prediction for Saturday, January 17th, 2026
Use Code WWWC The Kentucky Wildcats (11-6, 7-10 ATS, 7-10 O/U) take on the Tennessee Volunteers (12-5, 6-11 ATS, 11-6 O/U) in an SEC bout on Saturday afternoon, and we have you covered with the prediction. The Wildcats recorded a win against LSU in their previous action. The Volunteers posted a win against Texas A&M in their previous bout. Kentucky went 2-1 against Tennessee last season.
Can the Wildcats post a third straight win on Tuesday evening? Check out the Kentucky vs. Tennessee prediction. Do you need a boost in your handicapping? Try our NCAAB Picks!
Kentucky Targets Third SEC Win
The Kentucky Wildcats are targeting their third conference win of the season. Kentucky has been tasked with a daunting schedule and has been inconsistent. They have earned some big wins, including victories against Indiana and St. John’s. The Wildcats dropped a home meeting against Alabama in their SEC opener.
Kentucky beat Mississippi State last weekend and posted a narrow 75-74 home win against LSU on Wednesday in a meeting that had the Wildcats as three-point favorites. Kentucky was subpar in the offensive end, shooting 45%, and kept the Tigers to a 49% mark. They now stand at 2-2 in SEC play. The Wildcats have covered the spread in just one of their past five games.
Get Free $30 Credit for Premium Picks + Exclusive Discounts
Subscribe Now
Oteg Oweh has been hit or miss this season. The senior guard has been hot in SEC play, reaching 20 points in five of his past six games. He scored 21 points on Wednesday and has delivered an average of 15.8 PPG on the year. Mouhamed Dioubate has connected on at least 50% of his shots in two of his last five efforts. The junior guard has issued an average of 9.7 PPG on a 57% efficiency.
Denzel Aberdeen scored 17 points on Wednesday. The senior guard has reached double digits in three of his past five efforts and is averaging 11.6 PPG. Jalaand Lowe has been a threat, sinking 12 or more points in three of his past five games. The junior guard has posted an average of 8 PPG. Malachi Moreno scored 10 points in the win against the Tigers. The freshman center has recorded an average of 9.3 PPG.
The Wildcats are ranked 27th in DI in Ken Pomeroy’s ratings and have been out of the AP Top 25 for a few weeks. Kentucky is 1-2 on the road, including a defeat against Louisville. Kentucky is averaging 88 points on the season, ranking them 39th. The Wildcats have conceded 73 or more points in three of their past five games and are squandering an average of 74.1 points, placing them 145th.
Tennessee Seeks Second Straight Win
The Tennessee Volunteers are seeking their second conference win of the season. Tennessee has a strong roster and earned a minor upset win against Houston back in November. The Volunteers have been hit with what can be considered a few bad losses, including a defeat against Arkansas to begin conference play, in which they were the favorites. The Volunteers managed a victory against Texas in their first SEC win.
Tennessee was hit with a road defeat against Florida last weekend and answered with an 87-82 overtime home win against Texas A&M on Wednesday, but did not cover the 10-point spread. They only connected on 37% of their shots and kept Texas A&M to a 35% mark. The Volunteers are 2-2 in SEC action. They have covered the spread in two of their past five games.
Ja'kobi Gillespie is capable of big numbers. The senior guard has surpassed 20 points in six games. He was subpar in the win on Tuesday and is sporting an average of 18.2 PPG on the season. Nate Ament posted 23 points in the win against Texas A&M. The freshman forward has netted an average of 15.4 PPG.
J.P. Estrella has shot above 50% in five of his last seven games. The sophomore forward has amassed an average of 9.1 PPG. Jaylen Carey has posted double digits in five of his last six games. The senior forward has reported an average of 9.4 PPG on 52.9% shooting. Bishop Boswell scored 13 points on Tuesday. The sophomore guard is averaging 6.1 PPG.
The Volunteers are ranked 19th in DI in Ken Pomeroy’s ratings and dropped three spots in the recent edition of the AP Top 25 this week. Tennessee is 10-0 on its home court, including a win against North Florida. Tennessee is posting an average of 82.7 points on the season, rating them 110th. The Volunteers are keeping opponents to an average of 68.2 points, placing them 42nd in the country.
Kentucky vs. Tennessee Pick
Spread Pick for Kentucky vs. Tennessee
- Kentucky Wildcats +6.5 (5 units)
The Kentucky Wildcats are contenders in the tough SEC and have been hard to beat, winning three of their past five games. Yes, the Wildcats have six defeats, but they have been tasked with a difficult schedule. Kentucky has already played against six ranked opponents, while Tennessee has played against five ranked squads. The Volunteers have been inconsistent, posting a subpar 5-5 record in their past ten games.
Furthermore, Kentucky is the stronger offensive squad here. They are averaging 119.8 points per 100 possessions compared to 119.2 points per 100 by Tennessee. Also, not a whole lote seperates these teams in the defensive end. The Wildcats are only conceding 3.5 fewer points per 100. Go with Kentucky to keep it within reach on the road.
Over/Under Pick for Kentucky vs. Tennessee
- Over 145 (5 units)
I expect this one to have plenty of scoring. This is a lower number due to the defense on these squads, but the offense has been a threat. Kentucky has scored at least 75 points in five of its past eight games. The Volunteers' defense has not been as sharp in SEC play, squandering an average of 82 points.
In addition, Kentucky gave up 85 points against Bellarmine a few weeks ago and an average of 77 points in their past five games. Tennessee is in a groove in the offensive end, scoring 75 or more points in five of its past six games. The over is a convincing 5-0 in the Volunteers' past five games.
Betting on College Basketball?
- Join Winners and Whiners premium for free and get a free $30 coupon with code FREE30
- Get started and wager on college hoops today with our favorite online sportsbooks
- Claim a CBB betting bonus offer with the best sportsbook promos
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
New Users – Bet $5 Get $200 in Bet Reset Tokens for 5 Days
