The Tennessee Volunteers take on the Missouri Tigers in Columbia, MO. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
Tennessee is favored by 3.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -165. The total is set at 144.5 points.
Here’s my Tennessee vs. Missouri prediction and college basketball picks for February 24, 2026.
Tennessee vs Missouri Prediction
My Pick: Missouri +3.5
My Tennessee vs Missouri best bet is on the Tigers 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.
Tennessee vs. Missouri Odds
| Tennessee Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -105 | 144.5 -110o / -110u | -165 |
| Missouri Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -115 | 144.5 -110o / -110u | +140 |
- Tennessee vs Missouri spread: Tennessee -3.5
- Tennessee vs Missouri over/under: 144.5 points
- Tennessee vs Missouri moneyline: Tennessee -165, Missouri +140
Tennessee vs Missouri College Basketball Betting Preview
Tennessee Basketball
The Vols come into this matchup with quite a bit of momentum. They are riding a four-game winning streak, with the latest addition being a road upset win over a ranked Vanderbilt squad.
For years under Rick Barnes, Tennessee has traveled well, as it has been elite on the defensive end of the floor. While the Vols are 18th in adjusted defensive efficiency, they are only 4-4 on the road this season.
Their inconsistencies are often on the offensive end of the floor, as the Vols lack the ability to stretch the floor. They are 322nd in 3-point rate, which has put the majority of the offensive load on big man Nate Ament.
Ament leads the Vols in usage rate and has shown scoring upside. However, he's far from efficient, as he has an effective field goal rate of just 47.1%.
With Ament set to contend with equal size from Missouri, it will be up to Ja'Kobi Gillespie to punish the Tigers from beyond the arc, where they rank 307th in 3-point field goal percentage.
Gillespie is streaky from long range, so the Vols' offensive output in this matchup is a bit of a question mark.
Missouri Basketball
The Tigers have been trading wins and losses of late, but a theme over their last four games has been poor play on the defensive end.
Missouri has not had a defensive efficiency rating lower than 114 since its dominant win against South Carolina two weeks ago, although a return home may be just what the Tigers need to get back on track.
They have excelled in front of their home crowd this season, going 14-2. Away from Mizzou Arena, we have seen them get run out of the gym by up-tempo squads.
However, this matchup against Tennessee is set to work in their favor.
As we went over above, the size of Mark Mitchell and Trent Pierce will be critical in containing Ament on the defensive end. We should also see them play a big role on the offensive end of the floor, as well.
When teams can work the ball inside against the Volunteers, they have had success more often than not. Opponents are shooting 57% from the paint against Tennessee, which means Mitchell should feast on the low block.
Tennessee vs. Missouri Betting Analysis
This is a sell-high spot on the Volunteers. They have been playing well and are coming off their biggest win since defeating Houston in November.
Tennessee lost three straight after that victory and has a tough challenge ahead of it in the form of Missouri.
Missouri is a team that thrives on its home court, gets a defensive boost from the slow pace of this matchup and has the potential to control the paint on both ends of the floor.
Back the Tigers to test the Vols here, as it's much more likely Tennessee is on upset alert in this one rather than cruising to a fifth straight win.
My Pick: Missouri +3.5
