The Ole Miss Rebels take on the Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville, TN. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Tennessee is favored by 11.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -850. The total is set at 139.5 points.
Here’s my Ole Miss vs. Tennessee predictions and college basketball picks for February 3, 2026.
Ole Miss vs Tennessee Prediction
My Pick: Ole Miss +11.5 (Play to +10)
My Ole Miss vs Tennessee best bet is on the Rebels 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.
Ole Miss vs. Tennessee Odds
| Ole Miss Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+11.5 -110 | 139.5 -105 / -115 | +575 |
| Tennessee Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-11.5 -110 | 139.5 -105 / -115 | -850 |
- Ole Miss vs Tennessee spread: Tennessee -11.5
- Ole Miss vs Tennessee over/under: 139.5 points
- Ole Miss vs Tennessee moneyline: Ole Miss +575, Tennessee -850
Ole Miss vs Tennessee College Basketball Betting Preview
Ole Miss Basketball
Ole Miss looked to be trending in the right direction after beating Missouri and Georgia, but it's since lost three straight games.
In January, the Rebels struggled on both ends. They finished the month 91st in offensive efficiency and 82nd in defensive efficiency.
Early on, Ole Miss was stout on the defensive end, which, for a Chris Beard-coached team, is nothing new, even for a lesser-talented team.
That's since changed, as Ole Miss is struggling in all the key defensive areas. Rebounding has been a real issue, as the Rebs are giving up offensive boards on 36% of misses. Fouling is another issue, as Ole Miss sends teams to the line at a 49% clip. Making matters worse, teams are finishing inside the arc at an efficient 54%.
I'll add some positivity to the mix, though: Ole Miss covered the spread at Kentucky and Vandy, although it didn't defend well.
The Rebels don't beat themselves offensively, turning it over just 14% of the time.
Ole Miss is a very slow-paced team, playing at the 305th-slowest tempo in the country, so limiting turnovers can keep it in games.
Coach Beard will need his guards to play better. AJ Storr is quite streaky. He averages 14 points per game, but shoots just 43% from the field. Senior guard Ilias Kamardine finally got on track with a 20-point outing against Vandy.
Perhaps the biggest key is Patton Pinkins, who has a pair of game-winning buckets in SEC play. Pinkins is very efficient and should get more shots.
For Ole Miss to cover again, it'll have to shoot well from deep. Scoring on the interior is tough against Tennessee as is, but Ole Miss shoots just 49% on 2s.
That'll make it even more difficult.
Tennessee Basketball
Tennessee is 15-6 with a three straight wins over Alabama, Auburn and Georgia. The Vols have been very unprofitable this season, posting an 8-12-1 ATS record.
The offensive side of the ball is inconsistent for Tennessee. While Rick Barnes isn't known as an offensive-minded coach, this team is a step back from the past two seasons on that end of the floor.
Just scoring off the first shot is a struggle for Tennessee, as it's shooting 54% on 2s and 35% from downtown.
Some of the 2-point numbers get a boost from the Vols' dominance on the glass, gobbling up 44% of their misses — the best mark in the country.
Most of the scoring centers around two players: guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie and forward Nate Ament. Gillespie leads the team with 18.6 points per game, but he shoots just 42% from the field and 34% from deep. He has to take shots out of necessity due to the roster build.
Ament is trending in the right direction, scoring 17+ points in six consecutive games, but he's mainly doing it by getting to the foul line.
At all times, two of J.P. Estrella, Felix Okpara and Jaylen Carey are on the court, and each has a hunger for glass.
Defense is the heart and soul of this squad. The Vols make it tough to drive, leading to teams shooting 3s on 46% of their field goal attempts (opponents shoot just 29% on those). Plus, when teams do drive, they shoot just 48% on 2s.
Ole Miss vs. Tennessee Betting Analysis
I'm taking the points with Ole Miss here for one real reason: The pace will be slowed to a halt.
Tennessee is 273rd in adjusted tempo, and Ole Miss is 306th.
Neither team plays a lot of lopsided games, and the slow tempo should lead to Ole Miss keeping the game within single-digits.
My Pick: Ole Miss +11.5 (Play to +10)
