Tennessee vs Connecticut | Predictions

NCAA Basketball Free Pick – Saturday, January 22, 2011

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Tennessee (12-6) vs Connecticut (15-2)
Saturday, January 22, 2011  at 2:00 PM EST on CBS

Last meeting: These teams last met in 2000 in the Tournament.  Tennessee won 65-51.

Bruce Pearl has been biding his time during his SEC suspension but he will be back on the bench for this rare midseason out of conference tilt.  Without him the Vols have been just 2-2 but a win here would mean as much for their tournament chances as any they might have in the SEC.  The Vols are led by the duo of Tobias Harris and Scotty Hopson. Harris is one of the better frosh in the land while Hopson is a bit of a gunner who can shoot them in or out of a game.  Tennessee has played many close games this year and beaten good teams (like Pittsburgh) so they won’t be intimidated by facing the big bad Huskies on the road.  If their coach can give them a lift then they might be able to upset a UConn team that is probably not as good as its record right now.

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This may not be a traditionally great Huskies team laden with NBA talent but they are certainly winning like one.  The formula, pretty stingy defense and the amazing shot making of guard Kemba Walker, who when I last checked was leading the nation in scoring.  Walker scores an incredible one third of this teams points so it is easy to see what you have to do to beat the Huskies and the Vols guards might be good enough to do it.  In addition to shutting down Walker you also have to get mean on the glass.  The Huskies always rebound well and the bigs for Tennessee will be tested and jostled all game long.  Despite the lofty ranking #8, this is no gimme game for UConn.  They are 10-0 at home this year but only 2-2 ATS.  A lot of those wins were acquired by beating a bunch of patsies.

The current line on this one is UConn -7.  I like the Vols to be able to keep it a little closer than that.  It should be a battle.

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Prediction: UConn will be able to dictate the pace to keep themselves in the game.  Walker will struggle throughout but make the shots needed at crunch time adding to his Naismith resume.

Score:  Connecticut 67 – Tennessee 63

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Tennessee Volunteers Betting Trends:

• Volunteers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as an underdog.
• Volunteers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Big East.
• Volunteers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a road underdog.

Connecticut Huskies Betting Trends:

• Huskies are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games.
• Huskies are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
• Huskies are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.

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