Alabama Crimson Tide vs Tennessee Volunteers Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 03/01/2025

Game Time: 4:00 pm ET, Saturday, March 1, 2025

Venue:  Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center, Knoxville, TN

Where to Watch:  ESPN

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Alabama +3.5, Tennessee -3.5; Over/Under:  153.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Alabama +3.5, Tennessee -3.5; Over/Under:  153.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Alabama +3.5, Tennessee -3.5; Over/Under:  153.5 points

Alabama Crimson Tide:  23-5 (12-3) (2nd place, SEC)

Tennessee Volunteers:  23-5 (10-5) (4th place, SEC)

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Alabama Crimson Tide:  3-2  last 5

Tennessee Volunteers:  4-1  last 5

Alabama is entering this game with a 23-5 record overall, a 12-3 record in conference games, and they are 8-2 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a win against the Mississippi State Bulldogs in their last game. Chris Youngblood led the team in points per game in that game with 27 while Mark Sears was next on the team with 21. Mark Sears led the team in assists with 10 in that game while Mouhamed Dioubate led the team in rebounds with 11. They were 52.1% from the field, 48.9% from 3-point range, and 83.3% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 91.5 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 80.1 PPG against them. Alabama has an ATS record of 16-12 this season and their O/U record is 15-12-1.

Tennessee is entering this game with a 23-5 record overall, a 10-5 conference record, and they are 14-1 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a win against the LSU Tigers in their last game. Zakai Zeigler led the team in points in that game with 17 while Felix Okpara was next on the team with 15. Igor Miličić Jr. and Zakai Zeigler each led the team in assists with 3 in that game while Chaz Lanier led the team in rebounds with 9. They were 41.1% from the field, 27.3% from 3-point range, and 61.9% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 74.3 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 60.8 PPG against them. Tennessee has an ATS record of 16-12 this season and their O/U record is 11-17.

The current betting odds have Alabama listed as a 3.5 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Alabama has looked really good in their games this season with their 23-5 record overall and their 12-3 conference record which has them right near the top of the SEC. They have been a great road team this year with their 8-2 road record and they are ranked like one of the best teams in the nation. Meanwhile, Tennessee has looked good in their games this season with their 23-5 record overall and their 10-5 conference record which has them right near the top of the SEC. They are also ranked as one of the best teams in the nation and have looked great on their home court with their 14-1 home record. This game will be a battle of conflicting styles as Alabama has one of the best offenses in the entire nation, but Tennessee has one of the best defenses. Tennessee's defense has looked a lot better in their home games too, but Alabama has been very consistent in their road games this year and they will not let this game get out of hand with their offense. This is a very big game for both teams too since this is the only time they will face each other in the regular season this year and both teams are still looking to prove themselves as a number 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. As good as Tennessee has been defensively, they have struggled a lot more in the SEC than Alabama has and Alabama has the talent to pull off the outright upset. Look for Alabama to bring their best effort to solidify themselves as a number 1 seed. The best way to place a bet here is on Alabama to cover the spread in this game. 

Alabama Tennessee Prediction:  Our NCAAB Pick for Saturday, March 1, 2025 (4:00 pm ET start time) is Alabama 76 Tennessee 73.

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Alabama Crimson Tide: 11-18 ATS on the road after playing a home game. 4-7 ATS on the road after playing 2 consecutive home games. 6-2 UNDER in a road game where the total is 150 to 159.5. 14-5 UNDER versus good defensive teams - allowing 64 points/game or less. 28-18 1H UNDER versus good rebounding teams - outrebounding opponents by 4+ per game. 

Tennessee Volunteers: 30-17 ATS as a home favorite or pick. 11-6 ATS off a road win. 9-5 ATS off a road win against a conference rival. 17-10 ATS versus up-tempo teams averaging 62 or more shots/game. 10-4 UNDER off a road win against a conference rival. 31-18 UNDER versus good rebounding teams - outrebounding opponents by 4+ per game.

Alabama Crimson Tide:  D. Reid (F) Questionable - Undisclosed. H. Mallette (G) Questionable - Knee. L. Wrightsell (G) Out - Achilles. N. Cunningham (F) Out - Redshirt.

Tennessee Volunteers:  J. Estrella (F) Out - Foot.

"We didn't want him to touch it as much as possible. He torched us last time. He makes such tough shots, and he's going to get them off if he gets the ball. He's going to get them up if you let him touch the ball, so when he gives it up, don't let him get it back." - Nate Oats on Josh Hubbard after his team’s win against Mississippi State in their last game. 

“We like the fact that Chaz (Lanier) is doing that (rebounding), but he needs to work harder to get about eight more shots a game. And to do that, again, we want to get him more shots, but again, LSU I thought did a great job defending his first actions and what we’re trying to get him into. And again, we were sloppy. We had some chances I think that we could have probably got it to him with cleaner passes, but we didn’t. But again, you always have to give your opponent credit for that when it doesn’t happen.” - Rick Barnes on how his team needs to improve.

G. Nelson 

C. Omoruyi 

L. Philon 

M. Sears 

J. Stevenson

C. Lanier 

J. Mashack 

I. Milicic 

F. Okpara 

Z. Zeigler

PPG: M. Sears (19)

APG: M. Sears (5)

Reb/G: G. Nelson (7.9)

PPG: C. Lanier (18)

APG: Z. Zeigler (7.5)

Reb/G: I. Milicic (7.6)

Coaches:

Alabama Crimson Tide: Nate Oats (6th season)

Tennessee Volunteers: Rick Barnes (10th season)