A 10-game home winning streak hangs in the balance for the third-ranked Tennessee Volunteers (11-1) when they go head-to-head with the Georgia Bulldogs (8-4) at Thompson-Boling Arena. Action begins at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 5, 2019, and can be seen on SEC Network.
Georgia Bulldogs at Tennessee Volunteers Betting Odds
Both teams won big over their last opponent. The Volunteers defeated the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears 86-41, while the Bulldogs beat the Savannah State Tigers 110-76.
Georgia dominated nearly every stat category in the game. They had a free throw rate of 0.271 and an effective field goal percentage of 0.650. Savannah State was 0.011 and 0.403, respectively, for those same stats. The Volunteers, on the other hand, had a much better free throw rate (0.217 vs. 0.090) and had a much better effective field goal percentage (0.608 vs. 0.261). Jordan Bone had a solid outing for Tennessee with 18 points and six rebounds. Georgia, meanwhile, was led by Nicolas Claxton, who recorded 15 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks.
This was a highly competitive series last year, as the teams split their two games last season. The Volunteers won the most recent game 66-61. Tennessee had a much better turnover percentage (6.1 vs. 15.8). Georgia, on the other hand, had a much better offensive rebounding percentage (36.4 vs. 21.2). This will be the first contest of the year between these two teams.
Bone and Grant Williams have been playing well over the last five games for Tennessee. Bone has averaged 0 points, while Williams has put up 0 points a game during that span.
Looking at effective field goal percentage, this appears to be a balanced contest. The sweet-shooting Tennessee offense ranks 19th in the NCAA in that metric at 0.566, while the stingy Georgia defense is ranked 14th in effective field goal percentage allowed (0.437).
Georgia Bulldogs vs. Tennessee Volunteers Pick
Basketball Pick: SU Winner – Georgia, ATS Winner – Georgia, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- Georgia averages 43.2 rebounds per game, which ranks eighth in the NCAA. Tennessee ranks 120th in rebounds allowed per game (34.7).
- The Bulldogs rank 220th in three pointers attempted per game (19.7) while the Volunteers rank 234th (19.1).
- The Volunteers rank second in assists per game (21.2) while the Bulldogs rank 66th (15.1).
- Tennessee is fourth in the nation with 1.6 blocks allowed per game while Georgia is 18th with 2.3 blocks allowed per game.
Bettings Trends:
- The Volunteers’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 17.0, down from 19.1 for the season.
- During their last five games, the Bulldogs have scored an average of 78.2 points per game (1.0 below their season average) and allowed an average of 70.6 points per game (0.1 above their season average).
