Tennessee vs Missouri Prediction and Odds (Back Volunteers to Down Struggling Tigers)

The 19-7 No. 17 Tennessee Volunteers take on the 10-17 Missouri Tigers tonight at 7:00 p.m. EST and hope to start a new winning streak after a loss to Arkansas ended an impressive five-game run.

Missouri has lost three straight and eight of its last 10 as the wheels have started to come off its season following a strong start.

Will the Tigers be able to cover as a home underdog or will the Volunteers' suffocating defense prove to be too much to handle?

Here are the odds for this Tennessee vs Missouri matchup via WynnBET:

Tennessee vs Missouri Odds, Spread and Total

Spread

• Tennessee -11 (-110)
• Missouri +11 (-110)

Moneyline:

• Tennessee: -650
• Missouri: +475

Total:

• 130 (Over -110/Under -110)

Tennessee vs Missouri Prediction and Pick

You know how when you're sick and go to the doctor, they typically tell you to rest, drink lots of water and take some medicine? Well if there were a doctor addressing Missouri's recent offensive woes, they would tell the Tigers to avoid playing any excellent defensive teams until they can hit some shots again.

Unfortunately, Dr. Schedule-Maker just so happened to have Missouri face off against one of the best defenses in the country today and I'm betting the Tigers' offense stays ghastly sick.

Missouri hasn't eclipsed 57 points in any of their last three games and now face a Volunteers defense that ranks seventh nationally in adjusted efficiency thanks to the 11th-highest defensive turnover rate. Good luck, Tigers fans.

Tennessee is a matchup nightmare for Missouri, who turn the ball over on 21.2% of their possessions and are one of the worst three-point shooting teams in all of college basketball. The Volunteers have a top-50 2-point scoring defense and unless Stephen Curry himself suits up in the black-and-gold today I don't see how the Tigers can keep it close.

Even if the Volunteers have a terrible shooting night, their 43rd-highest offensive rebounding rate will generate them plenty of second-chance opportunities thanks to Missouri's 296th-ranked defensive rebounding percentage.

There's no real home-court advantage for the Tigers in this one either, as Tennessee has covered four of their last five road games and is an incredible 14-6 against the spread (ATS) as a favorite. As a road favorite, the Volunteers are a perfect 4-0 ATS and I expect them to get to 5-0 tonight.

This is the worst matchup Missouri could have asked for right now and until their offense shows us it can turn around, we have to go with the doctors orders and ride Tennessee straight to the bank.

Pick: Tennessee -11 (-110)