by Rod Pearson
Friday, Dec 16, 2022
Game Time: 10:30 pm ET, Saturday, December 17, 2022
Venue: McKale Memorial Center, Tucson, AZ
Where to Watch: ESPN2
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Point Spread: Tennessee +3, Arizona -3; Over/Under: 148.5 points
Bet365: Point Spread: Tennessee +3, Arizona -3; Over/Under: 148.5 points
BetMGM: Point Spread: Tennessee +3, Arizona -3; Over/Under: 148.5 points
Season Record
Tennessee Volunteers: 9-1 (0-0) (5th place, SEC)
Arizona Wildcats: 9-1 (1-1) (5th place, PAC-12)
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Tennessee Volunteers: 9-1 last 10
Arizona Wildcats: 9-1 last 10
Tennessee Volunteers vs Arizona Wildcats Preview and Analysis
Tennessee is coming into this game with a 9-1 record overall and they are 0-0 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on an 8 game winning streak with wins coming against the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles, the Butler Bulldogs, the USC Trojans, the Kansas Jayhawks, the McNeese State Cowboys, the Alcorn State Braves, the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, and the Maryland Terrapins in their last game. Zakai Zeigler led the team in points in that game with 12 while Tyreke Key was next on the team with 9 points. Olivier Nkamhoua, Santiago Vescovi, and Zakai Zeigler each led the team in assists in that game with 3 while Julian Phillips led the team in rebounds with 10. They were 28.8% from the field, 33.3% from 3-point range, and 52.4% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 74 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 51.4 PPG against them. Tennessee has an ATS record of 6-4 this season and their O/U record is 3-7.
Arizona is coming into this game with a 9-1 record overall and they are 5-0 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 3 game winning streak with wins coming against the California Golden Bears, the Indiana Hoosiers, and the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders in their last game. Ąžuolas Tubelis led the team in points in that game with 20 while Henri Veesaar was next on the team with 16 points. Kylan Boswell led the team in assists in that game with 8 while Ąžuolas Tubelis led the team in rebounds with 13. They were 56.7% from the field, 55.6% from 3-point range, and 69.6% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 92 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 75.7 PPG against them. Arizona has an ATS record of 4-6 this season and their O/U record is 6-4.
Tennessee vs Arizona Prediction
The current betting odds have Arizona listed as a 3 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Arizona is off to a very strong start this season with only 1 loss in their first 10 games and that loss came on the road against Utah in their 1st conference game of the season. They have bounced back since then getting back to their winning ways with 3 wins in a row, and now they have a chance to take down another ranked team here at home. Arizona is undefeated at home this year through 5 games and Tennessee will be coming in to play their 1st true road game of the season. Tennessee has also had a very strong start this season with 1 loss in their first 10 games, but their 1 loss came at the hands of an unranked Colorado team in a neutral site game which was in Tennessee, and now they are playing their 1st true road game of the year against a very good and ranked Arizona team. The best way to place a bet here is on Arizona to cover the spread in this game.
Tennessee Arizona Prediction: Our NCAAB Pick for Saturday, December 17, 2022 (10:30 pm ET start time) is Arizona 88 Tennessee 82.
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NCAAB Betting Trends
Tennessee Volunteers: 9-2 ATS after playing a game where both teams score 65 points or less. 10-3 UNDER when the line is +3 to -3. 13-6 UNDER in road games.
Arizona Wildcats: 7-15 ATS as a home favorite of 3 points or less or pick. 10-19 ATS after a win by 15 points or more. 13-7 UNDER against SEC opponents.
Key Injuries
Tennessee Volunteers: J. Aidoo (F) Ques Sat - Illness. J. James (G) Ques Sat - Ankle. D. Jefferson (G) out for season - Redshirt.
Arizona Wildcats: K. Kriisa (G) Ques Sat - Illness.
Notable Quotes
“I do think our guys play hard. I think they know they have to. I think they understand that we’ve talked about it a lot, what we want to do. The identity, being a defensive team.” - Rick Barnes on his team’s upcoming game against Arizona here.
“It’s going to be a fist fight. That’s the way they play and there’s just no other way to describe it and if you think you’re going to go in and win this game by being dainty and cute than you’ve got another thing coming.” - Tommy Lloyd on his team’s upcoming game against Tennessee here.
Starting Lineups
Tennessee Volunteers
T. Key
O. Nkamhoua
J. Phillips
U. Plavsic
S. Vescovi
Arizona Wildcats
O. Ballo
K. Kriisa
P. Larsson
C. Ramey
A. Tubelis
Statistical Leaders
Tennessee Volunteers
PPG: J. Phillips (11.6)
APG: Z. Zeigler (3.6)
Reb/G: J. Phillips (6.1)
Arizona Wildcats
PPG: A. Tubelis (20.2)
APG: K. Kriisa (6.9)
Reb/G: O. Ballo (9.4)
Coaches:
Tennessee Volunteers: Rick Barnes (8th season)
Arizona Wildcats: Tommy Lloyd (2nd season)
Rod Pearson
About the Author:
Rod Pearson has been a rabid sports fan his entire life. He grew up in Ontario, and was skilled in both hockey and baseball, and pitched in an elite baseball league for many years. In 2022, Rod decided to hang up his glove, so that he could write about the sports he loves -- but from a gambling perspective. Join Rod every day as he breaks down the games to find the best betting value.
