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*CBB(1u): Tennessee 1H +1.5 @ Texas A&M–6 PM CT
We backed the Aggies on Saturday in their matchup at Missouri, and it’s clear that Texas A&M is better than they showed earlier in the season. With that said, there is no situation(add in as much home court as you want) where I value them above Tennessee. Perhaps sentiment on Tennessee is a bit low after an ugly loss to Kentucky over the weekend, but I chalk that up to John Calipari having Rick Barnes’ number; every good team has one opponent they simply don’t match up well with.
I think Tennessee’s defense has a far bigger edge than the market is indicating. Texas A&M is not a good outside shooting team and needs to live around the rim to have success, but yet they only rank 173rd in 2pt FG%. Tennessee ranks 6th or better in both 2pt and 3pt defense while simultaneously forcing 15.5 turnovers per game.
Tennessee’s offense can get stale at times, but this is not the toughest matchup for their “3 and D” sort of style. Texas A&M ranks outside of the Top 100 in 3pt defense and also is very mediocre on the boards at this end of the floor. Given Tennessee is one of the best offensive rebounding teams in America, I was able to get to the window with trusting Tennessee’s offense.
This is the same Vols team that took down top-ranked Alabama last week. While I wouldn’t want to back them over the full game given A&M’s knack for living at the foul line, I do expect the Vols to take a lead into the break.
