Bulldogs vs. Volunteers Prediction
The Georgia Bulldogs and third-ranked Tennessee Volunteers open Southeastern Conference play this afternoon. Can host Tennessee continue its outstanding season today with another convincing win?
Game Snapshot
667 Georgia Bulldogs at 668 Tennessee Volunteers
Saturday, January 5, 2019
Thompson-Boling Arena at 3:30PM ET
TV: SECN
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Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, the Volunteers are a 14-point favorite on the spread line. The total is set at 148 points. As of Saturday morning, 61 percent of public bets are being placed on host Tennessee. Check out our College Basketball Public Betting Page for the latest information.
Bulldogs roll past UMass
Georgia improved to 8-4 on the season Sunday as it wrapped up non-conference play with a 91-72 home victory over Massachusetts. Nicolas Claxton led the Bulldogs with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting including 1-of-3 from 3-point range plus 3-of-3 on free throws. He also pulled down 11 rebounds and blocked three shots. Rayshaun Hammonds contributed 18 points, eight boards and three steals. Tyree Crump tallied 14 points, three assists and two rebounds. Derek Ogbeide added 12 points, six caroms and four dimes. Georgia led 43-32 at halftime and rolled from there. The Bulldogs shot 28-of-53 from the field, 8-of-20 from the floor and 27-of-31 on free throw attempts.
Vols trounce Tennessee Tech
Tennessee dominated the visiting Golden Eagles Saturday afternoon to the tune of 96-53 to improve to 11-1 on the season. The Volunteers led 51-33 at halftime and continued to control the action after the break. Tennessee shot 37-of-58 from the floor, 4-of-8 from 3-point range and 18-of-22 at the free throw line. Grant Williams paced the Volunteers with 25 points on 10-of-11 shooting plus 5-of-6 at the free throw line. He also racked up seven rebounds, three steals, two assists and two blocks. Admiral Schofield contributed 16 points, three boards and three blocks. Jordan Bone tallied a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds. John Fulkerson added 15 points plus four caroms, two steals and two blocks off the bench.
College Basketball Betting Trends
Georgia
The Bulldogs are 5-0 ATS in their last five Saturday games. Georgia is 6-0 ATS in its last six games overall.
Tennessee
The Volunteers are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 Saturday games. Tennessee is 1-3-1 ATS in its last five home games.
Prediction:
I’m not all in on the Volunteers yet and don’t firmly believe they are the third-best team in the country, but they have played very well in their two biggest games this season versus Kansas and Gonzaga with an OT loss against the former and a victory over the latter. Tennessee has a do-everything player in Williams and a talented scorer in Schofield, which should lead to many wins in the SEC. While there are still probably a few losses left in the Vols’ season, I think they roll here against a Georgia squad that hasn’t beaten a team better than fringe top-100 opponent Georgia Tech this season.
NCAA DAILY PREDICTION: TENNESSEE BULLDOGS -14