Unranked Texas and #8 Tennessee both remain in Nashville to face each other on Friday afternoon. It’s the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament. The game is at 3:30 PM ET on ESPN. Will Tennessee cover the 9.5-point spread as neutral-site favorites? Keep reading for our Texas vs. Tennessee prediction.
The Texas Longhorns are 19-14 straight up in the regular season this year. They are 16-16-1 ATS this season.
The Tennessee Volunteers are 25-6 straight up in the regular season this year. They are 16-15 ATS this season.
Texas vs. Tennessee Matchup & Betting Odds
835 Texas Longhorns (+9.5) vs. 836 Tennessee Volunteers (-9.5); o/u 135.5
3:30 p.m. ET, Friday, March 14, 2025
Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN
TV: ESPN
Texas vs. Tennessee Public Betting Information
Our CBB Public Betting Information page indicates that 68% of public bettors are currently backing Texas when it comes to the spread. This information is subject to change throughout the day, however, so be sure to check the link so you’re receiving the most up-to-date public betting data.
Texas Longhorns Game Notes
Longhorns guard Tramon Mark stuffed the stat sheet in his team’s 94-89 double-overtime win over Texas A&M on Thursday. The Arkansas transfer put up 15 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, a block, and 2 steals in 42 minutes. Mark shot 5 of 16 from the floor and 2 of 6 from long range in the win.
Texas guard Tre Johnson also played well against Texas A&M on Thursday. In 44 minutes, the 6’6” freshman from Garland, TX recorded 20 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, a block, 3 steals, and 4 made three-pointers. Johnson leads the team in scoring with 20.1 points per game this year.
Tennessee Volunteers Game Notes
Volunteers guard Chaz Lanier was sensational in his team’s 75-65 win over South Carolina last Saturday. In that contest, the senior from Nashville logged 23 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals across 32 minutes. Lanier shot 9 of 16 from the field and 3 of 8 from beyond the arc in the victory.
Tennessee forward Cade Phillips was electric off the bench in his team’s game on Saturday. The 6’9” sophomore registered 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 blocked shots in 23 minutes. Phillips is shooting 64.9% from the field this season.
Texas vs. Tennessee CBB Betting Trends
Texas is 3-1 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
The Longhorns are 7-5 ATS as an underdog this season.
Tennessee is 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
Tennessee is 2-3 ATS when playing with the rest advantage this season.
Texas vs. Tennessee CBB Prediction:
Before the SEC Tournament, Texas was likely not going to make the NCAA Tournament. Now? The Longhorns have a legitimate chance to make the Big Dance. Texas opened the SEC Tournament with a 79-72 win over Vanderbilt on Wednesday. The Longhorns followed that up with a gutsy 94-89 double-overtime win over #14 Texas A&M on Thursday.
If the tournament started tomorrow, Texas would likely be in the field. But the Longhorns can remove all doubt with a good showing against Tennessee on Friday. The numbers point to Texas having a good shot at covering the nearly double-digit spread. The Longhorns are 6-5-1 ATS when facing ranked opponents and 3-2 ATS in neutral-site games this season. Furthermore, Texas is 2-0 ATS when playing on no rest this season. In a game that they desperately need, I’m picking the Longhorns to cover the number against Tennessee on Friday. The pick is Texas +9.5 at Bovada.lv.