Norfolk State vs Tennessee Game Information

Norfolk State vs Tennessee Preview

No. 1 Tennessee (12-0, 7-0 at Home) hosts Norfolk State (9-6, 4-5 on Road) in Knoxville on Tuesday for an SEC-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference mismatch. In their last 5 games, the Spartans are 2-3, losing three straight to Hofstra by 13 (80-67), Baylor by 25 (94-69), and Northern Kentucky by 9 (71-62), and then beating Alcorn State by 17 (71-54) and Grambling by 6 (76-70), In their last 5 games, the Volunteers went 5-0, beating Syracuse by 26 (96-70), Miami Florida by 13 (75-62), Illinois by 2 (66-64), Western Carolina by 48 (84-36), and Middle Tennessee State by 18 (82-64). Online sportsbook DraftKings has Tennessee currently set at 11/1 odds to win the 2025 NCAA Basketball championship, the third Favorites behind Auburn (+700) and Duke (+900).

Norfolk State Seeking 10th Win Against the Spread

Norfolk State (9-4-0 ATS, 8-5-0 O/U) has won 3 straight, but expect that to come to an end at Rocky Top in this David vs Goliath tale. The Spartans have been a solid team to back at the betting windows, but Tennessee is a different orange breed and won’t have mercy for this Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference school. Norfolk State is led by G Brian Moore Jr. (18.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg), G Christian Ings (12.9 ppg, 3.9 apg), F Jalen Myers (10.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg), G Sin’Cere McMahon (6.4 ppg), G Terrance Jones (6.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg), G Jaylani Darden (6.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg), and F Kuluel Mading (6.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg). The Spartans (+4000 Moneyline) average 75.5 ppg (#196) and give up 68.8 ppg and average 12.6 Assists Per Game (Tied-#315) and 32.8 Rebounds Per Game (#361).

Norfolk State Betting Trends

• Norfolk State is 7-3-0 ATS the last 10 games
• The Spartans won 5 straight games ATS from November 16-December 1
• The Over 5-2-0 in Norfolk State’s last 7 games
• The Spartans lost 87-50 to Tennessee on January 2, 2024 (TENN -24)
• Norfolk State went 14-17-0 ATS last 2023-24 NCAAB season (45.2)

No. 1 Tennessee Looks to Improve to Sparkly 13-0

Tennessee (8-3-1 ATS, 5-7-0 O/U) is among a flock of SEC teams littering the Top 25, and it’s hard to tell if the Volunteers and Auburn are truly the 1-2 teams in the land, but for now it sure seems that way. Strength of Schedule and Scoring Margin reveal how strong these 2 programs are. Head Coach Rick Barnes and the Volunteers are led by G Chaz Lanier (19.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg), G Jordan Gainey (11.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg), F Igor Milicic Jr. (11.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg), G Zakai Zeigler (11.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 8.3 apg), F Felix Okpara (6.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg), F Cade Phillips (6.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg), G Jahmal Mashack (5.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg), and G Darlinstone Dunbar (5.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg). Tennessee averages 81.2 ppg (#69) while allowing just 56.6 ppg, and averages 39.6 ppg (#54) and 17.0 apg (#54).

Tennessee Betting Trends

• Tennessee is 12-0 SU over its last 12 games overall 
• The Volunteers are 7-2-1 ATS their last 10 games
• Tennessee was 18-17-1 ATS last season
• The Under is 6-2 the last 8 Tennessee games
• The Volunteers are 22-3 SU in their last 25 games overall

Norfolk State vs Tennessee Prediction

These two teams played almost exactly a year ago (January, 2, 2024) here in Knoxville and Tennessee rolled to a 37-Point victory (87-50), covering ATS as big 24-Point Home Favorites by 13 Points in a game that went Under the closing Total of 137.5 by 10.5 points and a game the hosts led 43-18 at Halftime. This one should look the same, but with the oddsmakers making a slightly higher Point Spread. Ken Pomeroy has the Volunteers ranked No. 3 (behind No. 1 Auburn and No. 2 Duke), with Norfolk State at No. 171. This Norfolk State vs Tennessee NCAAB pick will look to the Totals market and expect a game with under 140 points with the Volunteers playing 6 Unders in the last 8 and probably not interested in wearing themselves out the last 10 minutes of this anticipated blowout. Their last game went over by 1/2 a point and if you throw out the Syracuse game (166 points), Tennessee has played games in the 113- to 137-point range. Apathy is always worth -15 points? 

Kevin’s Pick: Norfolk State-Tennessee Under 138.5