Tennessee Volunteers vs. Colorado Buffaloes Picks, Predictions, Odds

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

7 minute read

Dec. 4, 2021

Dan Dobish
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Tennessee Volunteers (5-1) travel to meet the Colorado Buffaloes (6-2) at the CU Events Center in Boulder, Colo. on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on FOX Sports 1 (FS1).

Score Prediction

Tennessee 76, Colorado 69

Best Bets

Tennessee -4 (-110) DraftKings

Over 139.5 (-110) DraftKings

Tennessee Volunteers vs. Colorado Buffaloes Predictions

The Volunteers have rattled off three consecutive victories since its lone loss Nov. 20 on a neutral site against Villanova. They fell 71-53 on that day as two-point underdogs, hitting the UNDER along the way. Since then, they rebounded with an 89-72 victory over North Carolina, then a pair of victories against cupcakes Tennessee Tech and Presbyterian.

Tennessee held the Blue Hose to just 38% shooting (18-of-47) from the field, while limiting Presbyterian to just 26 rebounds and three trips to the free-throw line. On the flip side, Tennessee registered 56% from the field, hitting 33-of-59, while knocking down a ridiculous 14-of-27 (52%) from behind the 3-point line. The Vols also took very good care of the basketball, turning it over just eight times while picking up 13 steals. Four players went for 13 or more points, and six different players chimed in with at least one triple.

Colorado was denied a 2-0 start in conference play, falling 73-61 at UCLA on Wednesday. They did pick up the cover as 13.5-point underdogs, just their second cover in eight games (2-5-1 ATS) this season. F Jabari Walker had a strong game, going for 22 points, 11 rebounds and a pair of triples, while the Buffs hit 43% (23-of-54) from the field. But Walker couldn't do it all by himself, and only Eli Parquet was able to reach double digits in points, while previous leading scorer Evan Battey basically took the night off, hitting just 2-of-7 while finishing with a mere four points. That can't happen again if the Buffs want to vanquish the Vols.

Odds Provided by DraftKings - Subject to Change

Tennessee Volunteers vs. Colorado Buffaloes Betting Odds

• Tennessee -4 (-110)
• Colorado +4 (-110)
• Over 139.5 (-110)
• Under 139.5 (-110)

More Odds | Futures Odds

Tennessee Volunteers vs. Colorado Buffaloes Betting Resources

• Matchup: SEC vs. Pac-12
• Date: Saturday, December 4, 2021
• Venue: CU Events Center
• Location: Boulder, Colorado
• TV-Time: FS1 - 2:00 p.m. ET

• Injury Report
• Wooden Award Odds
• Conference Futures Market
• Power Rankings

Tennessee Volunteers Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 5-1
• ATS: 3-3
• O/U: 4-2

The Volunteers will be playing their first true road of the season, although they did leave Knoxville for a neutral-site tournament in Connecticut, splitting a pair of games against ranked opponents. Tennessee has alternated covers and non-covers in all six games so far this season, and they covered last time out against Presbyterian. If you believe in those coincidental-type trends, then a non-cover is on the horizon in Boulder.

In the final six road games during SEC play, Tennessee was 1-4-1 ATS down the stretch in the final six games on the road. These teams met last season in Knoxville, and the Vols came away with a 56-47 victory as six-point favorites in the regular-season opener on Dec. 8 as the UNDER easily connected. Santiago Vescovi played in that game, and he was good for 11 points, one of two Vols in double digits. Vescovi bagged three triples with five assists, two rebounds and two steals in the home win. Victor Bailey Jr. also chimed in with eight points.

The Volunteers have posted a 1-5 ATS mark in the past six road games against teams with a winning home record, too, while cashing the UNDER in six of the past eight on the road against teams with a winning mark at home. The UNDER is 7-3 in the past 10 overall on the road for UT.

Colorado Buffaloes Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 6-2
• ATS: 2-5-1
• O/U: 5-3

The Buffaloes haven't been very good against the number, at home or otherwise. They're 2-5-1 ATS this season, and 0-3-1 ATS in the past four games at home. They don't really handle themselves well against winning teams, going 1-3-1 ATS in the past five against teams above .500. However, that lone cover did come on the road last time out against UCLA.

It all starts with Walker for the Buffaloes. He has been the most consistent player, going for 10 or more points in every games this season, and he rolls into this game with four consecutive double-doubles, too. If Tennessee is going to win, they'll have to clamp down on Walker, or at least keep him somewhat in check.

For totals, the OVER is 27-11-1 in the past 39 games at the UC Events Center. Our game this season might be quite the contrast from the low-scoring defensive battle we saw in Knoxville last season.

Colorado has managed just two covers across eight games overall this season (2-5-1 ATS). (AP)

Inside the Stats - Tennessee Volunteers

• Record: 5-1
• VI Ranking: 15
• PS/G: 82.0
• PA/G: 63.3
• ORtg: 35.3
• DRtg: 28.5

Inside the Stats - Colorado Buffaloes

• Record: 6-2
• VI Ranking: 63
• PS/G: 76.5
• PA/G: 69.6
• ORtg: 34.0
• DRtg: 28.0

Key Players to Watch

• TENN: Kennedy Chandler - G (14.3 PPG, 5.2 APG, 2.8 RPG, 2.7 SPG)
• TENN: Santiago Vescovi - F (15.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.2 APG, 2.0 SPG)
• CU: Evan Battey - G (13.5 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 59.7 FG%, 66.7 3P%)
• CU: Jabari Walker - F (14.9 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 1.0 APG, 48.1 FG%)

Tennessee Volunteers vs. Colorado Buffaloes Betting Conclusion

Tennessee rolls into this game with 80 or more points in all but one of its six games, the blasting it took from Villanova. Conversely, the defense has been strong for the Vols, allowing 72 or fewer points in each of the outings. This won't be a defensive slog like last season's game between these two combatants. Tennessee was just finding its way in the season opener, and Colorado to travel cross-country to play them in the first game after COVID. So rust and low scores were inevitable.

Walker is a star for the Buffs, but they're not as deep as the Vols. Tennessee has four players in double digits, including Vescovi, who can do a little bit of everything. Tennessee also has the rebounding edge, and four guys pulling down at least five boards per night. The first game on the road is always a tough one, especially against a decent foe, and the Vols might be in for a tussle, and could even be losing at halftime. But depth and talent will eventually lead to a quality win on the road for Tennessee, and one which will be important when the NCAA Tournament looks back on the season in March.

Tennessee Volunteers vs. Colorado Buffaloes Betting Trends

• Tennessee is 1-3-1 ATS in the past five road games.
• Tennessee is 1-7 ATS in the past eight following a cover.
• Colorado is 2-6-1 ATS in the past nine games overall.
• Colorado is 0-3-1 ATS in the past four home games.
• The UNDER is 7-3 in the past 10 road games for Tennessee.
• The OVER is 27-11-1 in the past 39 home games for Colorado.

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