Villanova vs Tennessee Picks and Predictions: Vols Can Compete Both Ways

The Villanova Wildcats will take on the Tennessee Volunteers at the Mohegan Sun Arena for the Cheez-It Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament. 

Villanova, despite losing to UCLA, is still ranked 5th in the AP Poll at this time. On the other hand, Tennessee will be tested for the first time this season. It faced two mid-tier teams early, but hasn’t faced an actual Top 25 team yet. 

Does Villanova have an advantage facing UCLA earlier this year? Here are our picks and predictions for Villanova Wildcats vs Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday, November 20.

Villanova vs Tennessee odds

Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.

Villanova opened as a 2.5-point favorite and has stayed there ever since. The total, however, has dropped from 142 at open to 140 currently. There are still 141.5’s hanging around at some sportsbooks, so shop around for the best number. 

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until tip-off and be sure to check out the full college basketball odds before placing your bets.

Villanova vs Tennessee predictions

• Prediction: Tennessee +2.5 (-110)
• Prediction: Under 141 (-110)
• Best bet: Tennessee +2.5 (-110)

Predictions made on 11/20/2021 at 8:45 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Villanova vs Tennessee game info

• Location: Mohegan Sun Arena, Wilkes-Barre Township, PA
• Date: Saturday, November 20, 2021
• Tip-off: 1:00 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN+

Villanova at Tennessee betting preview

Injuries

Villanova: Bryan Antoine G (Out).
Tennessee: None reported.

Find our latest NCAA basketball injury reports.

Betting trend to know

Wildcats are 0-3-1 ATS in their last four Saturday games. Find more NCAA betting trends for Villanova vs. Tennessee.

Villanova vs Tennessee picks and predictions

Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.

Spread analysis

The Villanova Wildcats might just have an advantage due to playing higher-level competition before this game. The Wildcats, led by Justin Moore, are averaging 89.3 points per game, and allowing just 72.7 while shooting 50.3 percent from the field. 

Moore is averaging 19 points per game while senior guard Collin Gillespie is tallying 17.3. Villanova really has four players that will score in double figures on most nights, including Brandon Slater and Jermaine Samuels. 

Currently, the Wildcats have an offensive efficiency of 115.6, with an effective field goal percentage of 61.9 percent and a turnover percentage of 10.4. If Villanova can stay true to those numbers against Tennessee, this game will be a wrap. 

However, defensively, Villanova hasn’t looked great. The Wildcats have allowed teams to shoot a 56.7 percent effective field goal percentage and 40 percent from long range, along with 54.8 percent inside. Granted, the Wildcats faced UCLA earlier this year for 45 minutes, however, this is a sample size between all three games. 

Tennessee, on the other hand, ranks in the Top 20 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. The Volunteers rank third in offensive rebounding and shoot 42.9 percent from long range. Tennessee is extremely good at what Villanova is not good at. The Volunteers have scored 44 percent of their points from downtown through two games, while Villanova has allowed teams to shoot 40 percent from long range. That could be the difference. 

Tennessee likely doesn’t have the same amount of gifted offensive players as Villanova, but with Kennedy Chandler, Olivier Nkamhoua, Santiago Vescovi, and Justin Powell, the Volunteers have plenty of depth to score points. 

I like Tennessee to come away with this ATS win. 

Prediction: Tennessee +2.5 (-110)

Over/Under analysis

This is a tough game when it comes to the total. Villanova is the third-best team in the nation offensively coming into this game. However, Tennessee is holding teams to an 87.6 adjusted efficiency number on the defensive end. That’s good for sixth in the nation. 

Knowing that Tennessee has always been a terrific defense under head coach Rick Barnes is enough for me to like the Under here. 

Villanova is taking 19.1 seconds per possession, which is 322nd in college basketball at this time. Slow possessions against a really tough defense in Tennessee will make it tough to score points. 

Meanwhile, on the other hand, Villanova’s defense has been far from perfect, as stated above. However, it takes two to push a game Over and if Villanova doesn’t contribute, this game will stay Under. 

Prediction: Over 143.5 (-110)

Best bet

Tennessee is just the more well-balanced team in this game. Villanova turned the ball over just 10.4 percent of the time in their first three games. That 10.4 number could double against a very good Tennessee defense that has produced 26 percent turnovers through their first two games this season. 

The Volunteers also aren’t shy with shooting the long ball and have a solid matchup against a Villanova team that hasn’t looked great defensively, especially defending the three to start the season. 

I like Tennessee here with the points. 

Pick: Tennessee +2.5 (-110)

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