Carmen Mandato/Getty Images. Pictured: Tom Cream (left) and Sahvir Wheeler (right).
Georgia vs. Tennessee Odds
| Georgia Odds | +13.5 (-120) | |
| Tennessee Odds | -13.5 (+100) | |
| Moneyline | +675 / -1100 | |
| Over/Under | 140.5 | |
| Time | TV | Wednesday, 8 p.m. ET | ESPN2 | |
| Odds as of Wednesday morning and via BetMGM. Get an INSTANT $500 deposit match at BetMGM today. | ||
Georgia goes for its fourth straight SEC win on Wednesday when it heads to Knoxville to battle 16th-ranked Tennessee.
The Bulldogs are right in the middle of the SEC standings and are in desperate need of a resume-building win. Tom Crean’s squad has been underrated all season long but just hasn’t been able to keep its opponents in check on the defensive end of the floor.
Offense is definitely not the Volunteers’ strong suit, so Georgia may have a chance on Wednesday.
Tennessee has been on a rollercoaster in SEC play, as it sits with a 6-4 record in conference play. The Volunteers were one of the favorites to win the SEC when the season began, but they have struggled to generate offense since.
Can they finally put up a dominant performance against an inferior Georgia squad?
When Georgia has the ball
The reason the Bulldogs are 12-6 on the year is because of their offense, which averages 1.02 points per possession in conference play.
Georgia’s main strength is its ability to dominate the paint. The Bulldogs are shooting over 51% from 2-point range and 62.5% on shot attempts at the rim, per Hoop-Math.
Georgia is also the second-best offensive rebounding team in the SEC at over 34%. The Volunteers struggle on the defensive glass, so Georgia should have plenty of second-chance opportunities.
Where the Bulldogs have struggled is holding onto the ball, as they have one of the worst turnover rates in the SEC. Tennessee is one of the top teams in the country at turning opponents over and boasts the No. 1 defense in the country, according to KenPom.
So, the Bulldogs will need to take care of the ball if they are going to hang with the Volunteers on Wednesday.
When Tennessee has the ball
The Volunteers have been desperately struggling on offense ever since SEC play began. Tennessee is averaging a measly 0.98 points per possession in conference play. The main problem is it’s shot the ball horrendously from all over the court.
Tennessee is averaging only 48.2% from 2-point range and 30.8% from 3-point land, so it’s in desperate need of a solid shooting performance.
To make matters worse, the Volunteers are the worst offensive rebounding team in the SEC, which is a problem because Georgia is the worst defensive rebounding team in the conference.
Georgia has really struggled on defense in SEC play, allowing 1.10 points per possession, which is the second-worst mark in the conference. It allows its opponents to hit a high percentage from all over the floor, as opposing teams have the second-highest effective field goal percentage in the conference.
So, even though Tennessee has struggled on offense, it should be able to generate some open shot opportunities at home on Wednesday.
Betting Analysis & Pick
The struggles of the Tennessee offense have been well-documented, and I think those problems will ultimately be its downfall on Wednesday.
Georgia’s offense should absolutely be able to hang in this game, so I think the Bulldogs are great candidates to cover the large spread.
I only have the Volunteers favored by 11.73 points, so I think there’s some value on the Bulldogs at +13.5.
Pick: Georgia +13.5 or better.
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