Tennessee Volunteers vs. LSU Tigers Picks, Predictions, Odds

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

Jan. 8, 2022

Dan Dobish
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Tennessee Volunteers (10-3, 1-1) travel to meet the LSU Tigers (13-1, 1-1) at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, La. on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m., and the game can be viewed on ESPN2.

Score Prediction

LSU 66, Tennessee 62

Best Bets

LSU -1.5 (-110) at BetMGM

Under 133.5 (-110) at BetMGM

Tennessee Volunteers vs. LSU Tigers Predictions

The Volunteers were back at full staff Wednesday against a very shorthanded Ole Miss side in Knoxville, but just because Kennedy Chandler and John Fulkersonwere back didn't exactly mean they were guaranteed to not have any rust. Chandler and Fulkerson were out previously due to COVID, and they combined to shoot 5-of-15 with just 11 total points and two rebounds. Santiago Vescovi picked up the pace with 17 points, including four triples, with six rebounds, five assists and three steals in his 42 minutes during the 66-60 overtime win against the Rebels.

LSU was looking to bounce back from a beatdown at Auburn on Dec. 29, and facing a difficult test at home against Kentucky. The Tigers hadn't beaten a ranked team all season, but that changed with a solid victory at home over the Wildcats, 65-60. LSU covered the two-point spread as the UNDER cashed, with the suffocating defense of the Tigers holding the Wildcats to a season-low in points. Things could have been even better for LSU if not for a dismal 8-of-15 night from the free-throw line, or just 53%, while turning it over 15 times.

Tennessee Volunteers vs. LSU Tigers Betting Odds

• Tennessee +105
• LSU -130
• Tennessee +1.5 (-110)
• LSU -1.5 (-110)
• Over 133.5 (-110)
• Under 133.5 (-110)

More Odds | Futures Odds

Tennessee Volunteers vs. LSU Tigers Betting Resources

• Matchup: SEC
• Date: Saturday, January 8, 2022
• Venue: Pete Maravich Assembly Center
• Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• TV-Time: ESPN2 - 6:00 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: 10-3
• ATS: 8-5
• O/U: 5-8

The Volunteers entered the Ole Miss game with four consecutive covers since an overtime loss on a neutral floor against Texas Tech on Dec. 7. While Tennessee didn't come close to covering against Ole Miss as 16.5-point favorites, it showed the Vols can win games even when having an absolutely awful night offensively. Tennessee shot just 39%, or 25-of-64, from the field, while managing just 29%, or 10-of-34, from behind the arc. The Vols also turned it over 18 times, and they managed to outrebound a Rebels team with just nine total players by one. Tennessee was facing an Ole Miss team missing its leading scorer, too.

The Volunteers have covered four of the past five games overall, while going 6-2 ATS in the past eight games against teams with a winning overall record. For totals, the Vols have hit the UNDER seven times in the past eight games overall, while going 9-3 in the past 12 games on the road. The UNDER is 4-1 in the past five as an underdog, while going 8-2 in the past 10 games on the road against teams with a winning home mark.

Tennessee has had a difficult time against LSU in recent seasons, losing three straight meetings, while going just 1-5 SU in the previous six outings. The Tigers are 5-1 ATS across the past six in the series, too, while winning four straight home meetings dating back to March 4, 2015.

LSU Tigers Betting Analysis

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

• SU: 13-1
• ATS: 11-3
• O/U: 2-12

The Tigers have alternated covers and non-covers in each of the past four games, although they're 11-3 ATS overall in 14 games this season. At home, the Tigers are 9-0 SU/ATS, too. The question prior to the Kentucky game was, "yeah, but who have they played at home?", but that was answered in a big way against the Wildcats. Kentucky came to their Baton Rouge and it was held to 60 points, 22.2 below its season average.

LSU heads into this game with impressive numbers dating back to last season, going 19-6-1 ATS across the past 26 games overall. The Tigers are also 15-5-1 ATS in the past 21 games at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, while going 22-8-1 ATS in the past 31 as a favorite. They're also 12-4 ATS in the past 16 games against teams with a winning overall record.

As far as totals, the UNDER has connected in 13 of the past 16 games overall for LSU, while going 7-1 in the past eight at home and 7-1 in the past eight as a home favorite. The UNDERE is also 13-3 in the past 16 games overall as a favorite.

The LSU Tigers have covered 13 of the past 16 games overall. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Tennessee Volunteers

• Record: 10-3
• VI Ranking: 20
• PS/G: 76.6 (84th)
• PA/G: 60.4 (26th)
• ORtg: 107.3 (92nd)
• DRtg: 84.6 (10th)

Inside the Stats - LSU Tigers

• Record: 13-1
• VI Ranking: 15
• PS/G: 76.8 (80th)
• PA/G: 55.6 (4th)
• ORtg: 105.1 (132nd)
• DRtg: 76.1 (1st)

Key Players to Watch

• TENN: Kennedy Chandler - G (13.3 PPG, 5.4 APG, 2.9 RPG, 2.2 SPG)
• TENN: Santiago Vescovi - G (13.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 3.3 APG, 2.2 SPG)
• LSU: Darius Days - F (14.3 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 35.4 3P%)
• LSU: Tari Eason - F (15.6 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 1.4 BPG)

Tennessee Volunteers vs. LSU Tigers Betting Conclusion

The Tigers will face a ranked team for the third consecutive game after playing a less than challenging schedule during the early going. Things certainly get much tougher into the conference schedule in the SEC, and it's not just a football league anymore. LSU isn't the most gifted offense, but man can they shut it down on defense. Since kicking off conference play, the Tigers are averaging just 60.0 PPG, while allowing 65.0 PPG as the UNDER has hit in each of the past two games. In fact, the UNDER is 11-1 in the past 12 games, and that's the best play on the board here.

Tennessee's struggles against Ole Miss, a team it should have boat raced, is a bit of a concern. They have had trouble with the Tigers in recent seasons, so a trip to Baton Rouge against a ranked LSU isn't going to end well. And it is going to end in a low-scoring affair, too.

Tennessee Volunteers vs. LSU Tigers Betting Trends

• Tennessee is 4-1 ATS in the past five games overall.
• Tennessee is 6-2 ATS in the past eight vs. winning teams.
• LSU is 19-6-1 ATS in the past 26 games overall.
• LSU is 15-5-1 ATS in the past 21 home games.
• LSU is 22-8-1 ATS in the past 31 games as a favorite.
• LSU is 12-4 ATS in the past 16 games vs. winning teams.
• The UNDER is 7-1 in the past eight games for Tennessee.
• The UNDER is 9-3 in the past 12 road games for Tennessee.
• The UNDER is 4-1 in the past five as a 'dog for Tennessee.
• The UNDER is 13-3 in the past 16 games overall for LSU.
• The UNDER is 7-1 in the eight home games for LSU.
• The UNDER is 13-3 in the past 16 games as a favorite for LSU.
• The underdog is 19-6 ATS in the past 25 meetings.

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