Denim is back in fashion. At least it will be in Lexington tonight, when the Kentucky Wildcats host the Tennessee Volunteers.
It’s the 30-year anniversary of “The Untouchables”, a team considered by many to be one of the greatest collections of talent in college basketball history, and the Wildcats will honor them by wearing their throwback denim threads.
But the Volunteers want to spoil the party and make amends for their late-game collapse in Knoxville a few weeks ago.
I explain why we’ll see an electric, high-scoring affair in my Tennessee vs. Kentucky predictions and college basketball picks for Saturday, February 7.
Tennessee vs Kentucky prediction
Tennessee vs Kentucky best bet: Over 146.5 (-110)
As luck would have it, the total for today’s game (146.5) is the exact same as it was in the first meeting between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Kentucky Wildcats. The difference is this time, I’m taking the Over.
It’s easy to look at the metrics for the Vols and expect a lower-scoring affair, as I did in the first meeting. They play at one of the slowest paces in college basketball. They defend the rim well. They’re physical and make you earn your points.
In their previous meeting, the Wildcats mounted their thrilling comeback by getting a strong outside shooting performance, making 11 of 24 from deep, and finding easy points. They picked up 10 fast-break points and scored 19 second-chance points from 14 offensive rebounds.
The Vols do a lot of their dirty work on the offensive glass as well, leading the SEC in offensive rebound rate. But they also get to the free-throw line more often than any team in conference play, and are hitting the third-highest rate from downtown despite taking the fewest attempts per game.
The Wildcats, for all their outside shooting struggles earlier in the season, rank second in SEC play in outside shooting accuracy and fourth in FT rate. While opponents have made just 31.7% from deep, the Volunteers have been very fortunate with how many open looks they allow.
Kentucky ranks in the Top 15 nationally in fast-break points per game. They will find some against a Tennessee team that has turned it over nearly once in every five possessions during SEC play.
Otega Oweh is playing outstanding and getting to the rim with frequency, while Collin Chandler has scored in double figures in four of his last five games.
The first meeting saw 158 points scored, and it feels like this number is a bit too low yet again. The Over is 4-2 in Kentucky’s last six, and 8-2 in Tennessee’s last 10. This is a spot where it will come through again.
Tennessee vs Kentucky same-game parlay
The atmosphere inside Rupp Arena will be electric on Saturday night as they celebrate the 1995-96 national champions, a team that Mark Pope played for.
And this Kentucky team is playing with a high level of confidence. It knows what must be done to beat this Tennessee team again. With their improved outside shooting, the Wildcats will get the job done on an emotionally-charged night.
Collin Chandler has been a big reason for that improvement, as he’s improved his 3PT% to 41.9% during conference play. And he’s got multiple makes in five of his last six games.
He knocked down four of his eight long-range efforts on Wednesday against Oklahoma, the same number he hit in the first showdown with the Vols. Given how many quality looks they allow, he should be able to fire at will and punish them again.
Tennessee vs Kentucky SGP
- Over 146.5
- Kentucky moneyline
- Collin Chandler Over 2.5 threes
Our beyond the arc SGP: Dishing and Swishing!
The Volunteers rank fourth in SEC play in assist rate and 28th nationally on the season. The Wildcats allow one of the highest assist rates in the conference, and Ja'Kobi Gillespie dropped eight dimes in the first matchup.
His 27.5% assist rate in SEC play leads all Tennessee players by some margin. With the elevated scoring I’m expecting in this one, he should get 5+ assists for the fifth time in seven games.
Tennessee vs Kentucky SGP
- Over 146.5
- Kentucky moneyline
- Collin Chandler Over 2.5 threes
- Ja'Kobi Gillespie Over 4.5 assists
Tennessee vs Kentucky odds
- Spread: Tennessee +1.5 (-110) | Kentucky -1.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Tennessee +110 | Kentucky -130
- Over/Under: Over 146.5 (-110) | Under 146.5 (-110)
Tennessee vs Kentucky betting trend to know
Tennessee has hit the game total Over in 21 of its last 37 games (+3.40 Units / 8% ROI). Find more college basketball betting trends for Tennessee vs. Kentucky.
How to watch Tennessee vs Kentucky
| Location | Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY |
| Date | Saturday, February 7, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 8:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN |
Tennessee vs Kentucky key injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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