The Alabama Crimson Tide take on the Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville, TN. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Tennessee is favored by 3.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -175. The total is set at 158.5 points.
Here are my Alabama vs. Tennessee predictions and college basketball picks for March 1, 2025.
Alabama vs Tennessee Prediction
My Pick: Alabama +3.5 (Play to +3)
My Alabama vs Tennessee best bet is on the Crimson Tide to cover the spread, with the best odds currently available at DraftKings. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Alabama vs Tennessee Odds
| Alabama Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -105 | 158.5 -115o / -105u | +145 |
| Tennessee Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -115 | 158.5 -115o / -105u | -175 |
- Alabama vs Tennessee spread: Alabama +3.5 (-105), Tennessee -3.5 (-115)
- Alabama vs Tennessee over/under: 158.5
- Alabama vs Tennessee moneyline: Alabama +145, Tennessee -175
- Alabama vs Tennessee best bet: Alabama +3.5 (Play to +3)
Spread
I like Alabama to cover the spread. I think they can keep up with Tennessee in this game.
Moneyline
While I'm betting Alabama to cover, I'm not betting it on the moneyline.
Over/Under
I'm staying away from the total in this game.
My Pick: Alabama +3.5 (Play to +3)
Alabama vs Tennessee College Basketball Betting Preview
The Crimson Tide finally look the part of what many thought they'd be in the preseason. Since Feb. 1, Alabama ranks fourth in BartTorvik's rankings.
Meanwhile, Tennessee has won three straight contests, but none have come by more than eight points. I still don't trust the Volunteers, but let's look at this matchup deeper.
It should never be surprising to see a Nate Oats-coached team post staggering offensive figures.
Shooting was a bit of a struggle early in this campaign. However, that's since reversed course with Chris Youngblood back to full health and Mark Sears finding his groove. The Crimson Tide are up to 35% from 3 on the year, which is up from the 33% they hovered around for months.
The space created on the outside shots opens the lane for efficient 2-point shots. That helps Alabama shoot over 60% from 2-point range, which leads college basketball.
I just have no idea how even the best defense in college basketball stops Alabama's offense if it shoots it well since it scores so efficiently inside the arc.
Plus, a lot of those looks come in transition, as Alabama deploys the fastest tempo in America. If the Tide can string together a few successive stops, they can go on a quick game-changing run.
Alabama has the nation's 39th-most efficient defense, per KenPom. The Crimson Tide don't force turnovers (15% TO rate) but limit teams to just 29% from 3 and 48% from 2. Neither figure is too bad.
Youngblood just led Alabama to one of its best offensive showings all year, with the Tide scoring 1.44 points per possession in a win over Mississippi State. That marked the fourth straight outing in which Alabama posted 1.09 PPP or better.
If you're looking for the exact polar opposite of Alabama, it's the Volunteers. Rick Barnes is known for his defensive coaching chops, and he has the Vols as the nation's top-ranked defense.
This team is content with a lower-scoring game. The Vols rank 346th in adjusted tempo, the inverse of Alabama's rampant pace. Tennessee's dominant defense holds teams to the lowest effective field-goal percentage (43%), third-lowest 3-point percentage (27%) and 15th-lowest 2-point percentage (45%)
Offensively, Tennessee ranks 25th in offensive efficiency and will be in for a poor offensive night if the jumpers don't fall.
The Vols offense is big on shooting 3s, attempting outside shots on 43% of shot attempts. They convert on 34% of their 3s and will look to create second chances on the glass. However, Alabama has plenty of length and shouldn't get destroyed on the boards too much.
Chaz Lanier needs to shoot it well if the Vols want to pull away. It's no coincidence Tennessee doesn't play well when Lanier doesn't play well. In five SEC losses, Lanier has gone 10-of-38 from downtown.
This handicap comes down to a couple of factors.
Do you trust elite offense or elite defense more? For me, I think Alabama boasts the better roster top-to-bottom. With the Tide playing better right now and boasting the better roster, this line should be closer to 3 or 2.5 instead of 3.5.
