Home

Buy Sports Picks

Free Sports Picks

Sports Betting Forum

Members Login

Article Archives

Contact Us

Leaderboard

Who's Hot

Recent Results

Tennessee at Connecticut

This Saturday the No. 8 Connecticut Huskies (15-2,4-2 Big East) will host the Tennessee Volunteers (12-6, 2-2 SEC) in a non-conference showdown between two of college basketball’s most recognized programs. Tip-off is set for 2:00 ET at the XL Center and will be televised nationally on CBS.

The odds for this game have not yet been posted, but be sure to check back soon, as they should be up shortly.

The Volunteers were once ranked No. 7 in the country, after starting the season 7-0 with wins over Villanova and Pittsburgh, two of the better teams the Big East has to offer. Tennessee however is just 5-6 since beating Pitt back on Dec. 11. The Volunteers have won two straight, including a nice 59-57 win on the road over Georgia on Tuesday.

Tobias Harris and Scotty Hopson each had 15 points to lead the Volunteers to a much needed win on the road. Brian Williams added 10 points off the bench, but no other player scored more than six points for the Volunteers. Cameron Tatum is third on the team averaging 9.9 points  a game, but failed to score a single point against Georgia. Tatum had scored 33 points in his previous two games, including a 21 points in an overtime loss against Florida.

The win against Georgia was the Volunteers first road win of the season, and now have to go on the road against a Connecticut team that hasn’t lost at home all season. The Volunteers however are 3-0 in games against teams who are ranked in the Top 25.

The Huskies nearly had that home streak snapped in their last game against No. 7 Villanova, but were able to hold on for a 61-59 win. With the win the Huskies are now 4-2 against teams ranked in the Top 25. Even though the Volunteers are currently ranked, there is no question they are talented enough to be in the Top 25, and you can bet the Huskies are treating this like any other big game they have played this season.

Connecticut is led by junior guard Kemba Walker, who is one of the best players in the country. Walker is averaging 25.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists a game this season, and has put this Huskies team on his back.Walker hasn’t been just scoring a bunch against weaker opponents, he is averaging 26 a game against ranked teams, so expect a big performance out of him at home against the Volunteers.

Sophomore Alex Oriakhi is the only other player averaging in double figures at 11.1 points a game. Oriakhi also leads the team with 9.4 rebounds a game. Oriakhi had 14 points and 12 rebounds against Villanova. Also keep an eye on freshman Jeremy Lamb, who has score in double figures in each of the last two games.

When it comes down to it, I just don’t think the Volunteers will have what it takes to win at Connecticut, but don’t be surprised if this game is a lot closer than the oddsmakers predict. Tennessee has already proven then can hang with the top teams out of the Big East, and could easily win this game. Connecticut relies so much on Walker, that if he doesn’t have a good game there chances of winning aren’t good at all.