The Alabama Crimson Tide take on the Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Tennessee is favored by 5.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -230. The total is set at 162.5 points.
Here’s my Alabama vs. Tennessee prediction and college basketball picks for February 28, 2026.
Alabama vs Tennessee Prediction
My Pick: Tennessee -5 (Play to -6.5)
My Alabama vs Tennessee best bet is on the Volunteers to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Alabama vs Tennessee Odds
| Alabama Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5.5 -110 | 162.5 -115o / -105u | +190 |
| Tennessee Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5.5 -110 | 162.5 -115o / -105u | -230 |
- Alabama vs Tennessee Spread: Alabama +5.5, Tennessee -5.5
- Alabama vs Tennessee Over/Under: 162.5 Points
- Alabama vs Tennessee Moneyline: Alabama +190, Tennessee -230
Alabama vs Tennessee College Basketball Betting Preview
Alabama Basketball
Alabama is feeling itself of late, winning seven straight games and improving to 21-7 and 11-4 in SEC play.
The first time the Crimson Tide and Tennessee played, the Vols took a six-point road win. Some context is needed, though.
Alabama was very shorthanded. It didn't have Aden Holloway, the team's second-leading scorer, or starting forward Amari Allen.
You won't find teams with styles that differ more than these two. Alabama is all about pacing and spacing. It plays the second-quickest tempo in the sport and leads the country with a 54% 3-point rate.
That can lead to some real variance with Alabama. When the 3s are falling, it's tough to beat the Tide, but when they aren't, beating them is much easier.
Alabama is shooting 36% from downtown and also shoots 57% from 2-point range. Plus, the Tide turn the ball over just 14% of the time. It's pretty rare for teams that play such a quick tempo to be elite at controlling the ball, but that's why Alabama is a top-tier offense.
Keep an eye on Labaron Philon's status. The star guard missed the Tide's last game, and injuries have been an issue for him throughout the year. He leads Alabama with 21.3 points per game and shoots 50% from the field and 38% from deep.
Head coach Nate Oats has four other double-digit scorers he can entrust.
Holloway, the partner of Philon, is speedy and a sniper. The other guard who sits in double-figures is Latrell Wrightsell, a pure shooter who's regaining form after an Achilles injury last year.
The Crimson Tide could sure use Charles Bediako in this matchup. Sadly for them, Bediako was once again denied by the courts to play. That'll put a lot of pressure on Aidan Sherrell and Allen.
Tennessee Basketball
Tennessee is tough to figure out. At times, the Vols look like a team with top-15 upside. Other times, they look like a middling SEC team.
While Alabama is all about modern basketball, Tennessee is still living in the dark ages. The Vols play at the 278th-slowest tempo in the country and shoot 3s just 32% of the time.
Sometimes, the best offense for Tennessee is the second shot, not the first. Nobody grabs more offensive rebounds than the Vols, who grab offensive rebounds on 45% of their misses.
Rick Barnes starts three players who stand 6-foot-10 or taller. Two bruising bigs in Felix Okpara and Jaylen Carey, and versatile wing Nate Ament. That trio helps the Vols dominate on the boards.
Given that Alabama's biggest issue is protecting the glass, Tennessee's ability to grab the glass could bury the Tide.
Ament turning a new leaf is huge for this Tennessee team. The talent was never the question; it was confidence and consistency. He scored 17-plus points in 12 of his last 14 games. Ament's ability to create in pick-and-rolls and draw fouls is huge.
The go-to guy for Tennessee is Ja'Kobi Gillespie, who averages 18.1 PPG and shoots 35% from deep. He can be a bit inconsistent, but he's a reliable scorer and the best that the Vols have.
What the Vols do well is defend at an elite level. They boast the 14th-best defense in America, per KenPom. The toughness and physical play of the Vols limit teams 49% shooting on 2s (76th) and 30% from deep (22nd).
Alabama vs Tennessee Pick, Betting Analysis
Tennessee is a five-point favorite, and I'm inclined to back it. The Vols will have to limit Alabama's shooting.
But the rebounding feels like the biggest swing stat.
Due to Alabama's lack of interior depth and overall beef to fight Okpara and Carey, the Vols should dominate the shot volume battle.
My Pick: Tennessee -5 (Play to -6.5)
