GAME:  655 Tennessee vs. 656 VCU
TIME:    11/30 4:00p EST
SPREAD:  Tennessee  -1 TOTAL: 132
SPORTSBOOK:  5Dimes Sportsbook 

The #17 ranked Tennessee (5-1) and #20 ranked VCU (6-1) will meet in their 2nd game of the Emerald Coast Classic in Niceville, Florida. VCU lost 59-56 to Purdue in its most recent game, while Tennessee lost 60-57 to Florida State in its last outing. These teams last met in 2014 when VCU won 85-69. 

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS

The Tennessee Volunteers are scoring 71 points per game while allowing 55 points per game which is the 9th best in the NCAA.  Volunteers are shooting 44% from the field and 35% from three-point land averaging seven 3-pointers per game. The Vol’s are holding their opponents to only 36% field goal shooting and only 28% from 3 while forcing 14 turnovers with 6 steals and 6 blocks per game. 

VCU RAMS

The Rams are scoring 74 points per game on 44% field-goal percentage with 35% from three-point land, averaging 8 per game. VCU is turning the ball over 15 times per game but forcing 18 turnovers 11 steals and 6 blocks per game. 

Marcus Santos-Silva, Marcus Evans, De’Riante Jenkins, Issac Vann, and Mike’L Simms have collectively accounted for 68 percent of VCU’s scoring this season including 65 percent of the team’s points over its last five games. For Tennessee, Lamonte Turner, Jordan Bowden, Yves Pons, and John Fulkerson have collectively accounted for 75 percent of all Tennessee scoring, including 79 percent of the team’s points over its last five games.

MATCHUP SUMMARY

This will be a back and forth game of tough defense and grind it out type-offense.  Tennessee and VCU can score a lot of points with both averaging over 70 per game and the total is set at a low number of 132 indicating this will be a defensive matchup especially when you consider both teams had tough losses yesterday and will be looking to be more efficient on both ends of the floor.  This will be close to the finish and team depth may be an issue for Tennessee.  VCU has slightly more experience and more depth but Tennessee has more talent and better coaching. 

TRENDS

TENNESSEE:

• Over is 7-1 in TENN last 8 neutral site games.
• Over is 9-3-1 in TENN last 13 overall.
• TENN are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games overall.

VCU:

• VCU are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
• VCU are 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 Sat. games.
• Over is 5-2-1 in VCU last 8 vs. Southeastern.

BETTING ANGLES:

Data Analysis:   Tennessee -1 / Under 132
Fade the Public:   Tennessee -1 / Over 132
Sharp Action:    no data / no data

Tennessee vs. VCU – College Basketball prediction