Louisville at Tennessee Picks and Prediction, Tuesday, December 16th, 2025
Use Code WWWC In this Louisville at Tennessee prediction, the 11th-ranked Cardinals head to the Food City Center in Tennessee to take on the 20th-ranked Volunteers. The Cardinals, from the ACC, are 9-1 on the season, all non-conference games. The Volunteers, out of the SEC, are now 7-3 overall, but have lost three straight games. Read on for more in this Louisville/Tennessee prediction and get our top Men’s College Basketball Picks to increase your bankroll!
Louisville Thriving Early On
The Louisville Cardinals are off to another fast start in the second year under head coach Pat Kelsey. He led the team to a 27-8 record in his first season as head coach, going from last place to second place in the ACC. This year, after a quick exit in the NCAA Tournament last year, Kelsey and the Cardinals have their sights set on a deeper run in the Big Dance. The Cardinals come into this matchup following a dominant 99-73 win over Memphis on Saturday at home. The Cardinals buried the Tigers from downtown, drilling 18 3-point field goals in the win. The Cardinals were up by 20 at the break, burying 12-of-22 3-point field goals in the game’s first 20 minutes. Ryan Conwell led the way with 17 points and Adrian Wooley poured in 15 points off the bench for Louisville.
The Cardinals have had a formidable non-conference schedule this year, ahead of ACC play. The team is 3-1 against power conference teams, including two straight wins heading into this game. The Cardinals have one of the top offenses in the country. They rank fifth in points per game. They are fourth in offensive efficiency. The Cardinals are 63rd in field goal shooting in the nation and 48th in 3-point shooting. On the defensive end, Louisville is 52nd in the country in points allowed per game. The Cardinals are 18th in defensive efficiency. The team is 10th in field goal defense and 48th in 3-point defense. The Cardinals are an impressive 11th in rebounding and 88th in turnovers per game.
Key Injuries: No Injuries to Report.
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Volunteers Slumping
The Tennessee Vols limp into this Top 20 matchup against Louisville with three straight losses. Head Coach Rick Barnes is entering his 11th season as head coach and is still seeking the school’s first-ever trip to the Final Four. Last season, the Vols reached the Elite Eight but were ousted once again. The Vols jumped out to a record of 7-0 this season but have struggled in recent games, all against power conference opponents. The Vols lost their third straight game back on December 6th, before the school went on break for finals, losing 75-62 to Illinois in Nashville as part of the Music City Madness event. Ja’Kobi Gillespie led the Vols with 15 points. Freshman Nate Ament, averaging over 17 points per game coming in, scored just nine points. The Volunteers shot just 37 percent from the field, including just 6-of-22 from 3-point range.
The Vols will come into this game well rested, but perhaps rusty after ten days off. They come into this game just 2-3 against power conference teams this season. The Vols are ranked 84th in the country in points per game. They are 67th in offensive efficiency. The Vols check in at 92nd in field goal shooting and 139th in 3-point shooting. Defensively, the Vols are 23rd in the nation in points allowed per game. They are 28th in defensive efficiency. The Vols are 16th in field goal defense and 53rd in 3-point defense. They are one of the best rebounding teams in the nation, ranked 8th in the country. The Vols are sloppy, however, ranked just 255th in turnovers per game.
Key Injuries: No Injuries to Report.
Louisville at Tennessee Pick
Point Spread Pick for Louisville at TennesseeÂ
- Louisville +1.5 (4 units)
The Cardinals have thrived under Kelsey in his 1+ year as head coach. They have improved offensively and defensively. This year, the Cardinals may be playing their best defense yet. They are 18th in defensive efficiency and 10th in field goal defense. The Vols are solid on defense as well, but usually thrive with their ability to dominate the glass. In this case, however, they run into an equally tenacious rebounding team. The Cardinals are much more efficient offensively and shoot the ball better from long range. The Cardinals are well-tested already and won’t be intimidated on the road here. I’ll take the more well-rounded offense in this battle of two solid defensive teams.
Take Louisville.
Over/Under Pick for Louisville at TennesseeÂ
- Under 159 (4 units)
Both teams are in the top 60 in the country in scoring defenses. Both teams like to move quickly, but the ability of both teams to rebound may limit second-chance opportunities. Louisville will get more quality shots, while the Vols will squander too many possessions with turnovers. Both teams are in the top 30 in defensive efficiency, so don’t expect this to be a shootout.
Take the under.
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