The Tennessee Volunteers look to get their season back on track as they head to Tuscaloosa for a showdown with the No. 17 Alabama Crimson Tide.
Tennessee has lost three of its last five, but that slide can’t be pinned on five-star freshman Nate Ament, who I’m backing to have a big game in my Tennessee vs. Alabama predictions.
Here are my best free college basketball picks for this conference clash on Saturday, January 24.
Tennessee vs Alabama prediction
Tennessee vs Alabama best bet: Nate Ament Over 15.5 points (-120)
Tennessee forward Nate Ament is averaging 15.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game and has shown improved efficiency of late. The silky-smooth 6-foot-10 freshman is shooting 49.1% from the field over his last six games after connecting at just a 38% clip across his first 12 contests.
Ament has scored 17 or more points in three straight games and draws a favorable matchup tonight against an Alabama team that plays at a blazing-fast pace while offering little resistance on defense.
The Crimson Tide are 329th nationally in points allowed per game (82.6), with that number ballooning to 86.8 against high-major opponents. They also sit outside the top 300 in free throws allowed per game (25.2), while Ament ranks in the top 15th percentile in free-throw rate.
Ament’s ability to score in transition and consistently get to the line should help him eclipse his points total tonight.
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Tennessee vs Alabama same-game parlay
Let’s also back Ament to have a productive night on the glass, as Alabama’s extremely fast tempo has the Tide ranked 358th in rebounds allowed per game (41.3).
Tennessee hasn’t looked great of late, but neither has Alabama, which is 2–7 ATS in its last nine games against Top-100 KenPom opponents at home. The Vols check in at No. 23 at KenPom and are 14th in adjusted defensive efficiency.
Tennessee would have a solid chance to cover this spread even if the Tide were at full strength, and that may not be the case. Alabama’s second- and third-leading scorers, Aden Holloway and Amari Allen, have both been downgraded to questionable for tonight.
Tennessee vs Alabama SGP
- Nate Ament Over 15.5 points
- Nate Ament Over 5.5 rebounds
- Tennessee +6.5
Our beyond the arc SGP: Nate the Great
With the Tide possibly missing their second and third-highest scorers against a strong Vols defense, I'm leaning towards the Under on a lofty total.
The Under has cashed in 10 of 12 meetings between these SEC foes during Rick Barnes' tenure.
Tennessee vs Alabama SGP
- Nate Ament Over 15.5 points
- Nate Ament Over 5.5 rebounds
- Tennessee +6.5
- Under 167.5
Tennessee vs Alabama odds
- Spread: Tennessee +6.5 (-110) | Alabama -6.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Tennessee +230 | Alabama -280
- Over/Under: Over 167.5 (-110) | Under 167.5 (-110)
Tennessee vs Alabama betting trend to know
The Vols have gone 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS in the last four meetings between these conference foes. Find more college basketball betting trends for Tennessee vs. Alabama.
How to watch Tennessee vs Alabama
| Location | Coleman Coliseum, Tuscaloosa, AL |
| Date | Saturday, January 24, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 8:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN |
Tennessee vs Alabama key injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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