No. 23 Georgia takes the court as a ranked men’s basketball team for the first time since 2011 when the Dawgs visit No. 6 Tennessee in SEC action on Wednesday with the Vols as double-digit favorites on the NCAAB odds.
They fell from No. 1 in the latest polls on Monday.
Opening Spread/Totals Subject to Change: Tennessee -11 (total 135) Expert Prediction: Tennessee 75, Georgia 65 |
How to Bet Georgia at Tennessee College Basketball Lines & TV Info
NCAAB Moneylines: Tennessee -769 / Georgia +493
When: Wednesday, 8 PM ET
TV: SEC Network
Georgia Basketball Analysis
Georgia (14-2, 2-1 SEC) has been a huge surprise and this will be the fourth straight ranked team the Bulldogs face. They are 2-1 in that stretch after a 72-62 home win over No. 17 Oklahoma on Saturday. Sooners Brycen Goodine, who scored 34 points in his team’s previous game, scored only 3 points while making 1 of 7 shots from the field. Oklahoma shot season lows of .381 from the field and .259 (7 for 27) from 3-point range.
The Rival
OU entered as the SEC’s top free throw shooting team at .810 but only attempted nine free throws (made seven). Georgia, meanwhile, was 27 of 37 at the line. The Bulldogs’ 27 makes and 37 attempts were by far OU opponent season highs (Michigan and Alabama made 22, while Alabama attempted 30). Georgia’s eight blocked shots tonight tied an OU opponent season high.
The Top Players
Three Bulldogs reached double figures led by freshman forward Asa Newell and graduate guard Dakota Leffew’s 15 points apiece. sophomore guard Silas Demary Jr. rounded out double-figure scoring with 10 points powered by eight free throws. Newell posted his 15th double-figure scoring output in 16 games and led Georgia offensively for the ninth time this season. Freshman center Somto Cyril was a force in the paint, recording four blocks on the night to mark his fourth game this season with four or more rejections in a game.
Mike White
“We’ve already addressed the fact that we weren’t quite as sharp, and Oklahoma’s really good – like really good,” head coach White said. “They’re going to continue to win a bunch. They do a fantastic job, and again, they didn’t shoot it great. Our detail was good. Our mental toughness was very good. We were locked in the other day. So again, it was the response for a young team after beating number six. It was pretty good; it needs to be great. Coming into this week, it’s got to be great. If that were to happen [being ranked], I’d be happy for our fans.”
Asa Newell
Newell has led the Bulldogs to their first back-to-back victories over ranked opponents since January 2007 and was named SEC Freshman of the Week on Monday for the fifth time this season. On the week, he averaged 16.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. He is the first Georgia player to claim the accolade multiple times since Anthony Edwards earned four certificates during the 2019-20 campaign.
For the third time this season 📈@SEC Freshman of the Week: @NewellAsa 🚀#GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/YyBDsbffu3
— Georgia Basketball (@UGABasketball) January 13, 2025
The Stats
Georgia’s balanced offense features seven players who have led the Bulldogs in one or more games. Two more players have posted double-figure scoring outputs. All told, those nine Bulldogs have produced 65 double-digit performances, an average of 4.1 per game. Newell leads a quartet of Bulldogs averaging double figures at 15.4 ppg. He also paces UGA on the boards at 6.8 rpg. He also is No. 3 in the SEC and No. 39 nationally in field goal percentage (.581).
The Rankings
The Dawgs landed at No. 23 in this week’s AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll. Georgia last appeared in the Associated Press poll on Jan. 10, 2011, when the Bulldogs were No. 24. The last time the Bulldogs were featured in both national polls was March 10, 2003, when Georgia was No, 21 and No. 22 in the AP and coaches polls, respectively.
White has led three different programs with losing records the season before he arrived to Top 25 rankings in the AP poll, also doing so at Louisiana Tech in 12-20 in 2010-11 to No. 25 in 2013 and Florida 16-17 in 2014-15 to No. 12 in 2017. UGA was 6-26 in 2021-22, the season before White’s arrival.
As noted, Tennessee is UGA’s fourth straight ranked opponent, the first time the Bulldogs have ever played a quartet of ranked foes in successive outings.
^Georgia at Tennessee College Basketball Lines provided by MyBookie
Tennessee Basketball Analysis
Tennessee’s five-week run atop the AP and coaches polls ended on Monday when the Volunteers slipped to No. 6. The Vols were the nation’s last unbeaten before falling 73-43 at No. 8 Florida last Tuesday. UT (15-1, 2-1 SEC) bounced back with a 74-70 win at Texas on Saturday. Tennessee dominated rebounding 41-27 and points in the paint 28-16.
Arthur Kaluma
After a pair of Kaluma free throws gave the Longhorns a 56-52 lead with 7:31 left, the Volunteers went on a 14-4 spurt over the next five minutes to build a 66-60 cushion following a Jordan Gainey three-pointer at the 2:41 mark. A Tre Johnson jumper and a Jordan Pope free throw pulled Texas to within 66-63 with 1:30 remaining, but that was as close as the Longhorns would get the rest of the way.
Zakai Zeigler
Senior guard Zeigler paced Tennessee with 16 points and a game-high eight assists in triumph during which neither side led by greater than seven. Zeigler scored 13 of his 16 points in the final 15 minutes, including six in the last minute. Darlinstone Dubar finished one point shy of his season high with 12 points, nine of which came in the last 14 minutes, and he added a season-best six rebounds. He shot 3-of-5 from 3-point range, his first time making multiple long-range shots as a Volunteer, and played a season-high 17 minutes, finishing with a game-best plus-eight margin.
Jordan Gainey
Gainey logged 12 points, while fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier added 10 in the victory. Felix Okpara totaled seven points to go along with game highs in rebounds (nine) and blocks (three), the latter of which all came in the last 10 minutes. Tennessee remained undefeated against unranked foes, moving to 14-0, while ranked first in the AP Poll.
The Record
It’s the sixth time in the last seven years, with 2021-22 the lone exception, Tennessee has won at least two of its first three SEC games. The Volunteers have held a halftime advantage in 14 of their 16 outings this season, including a margin of seven-plus points 11 times, double digits nine times, 12-plus seven times, 14-plus six times and 23-plus thrice. Tennessee has conceded 35 or fewer first-half points in 15 of its 16 outings thus far, including 29 or fewer on nine occasions and 21 or fewer four times.
UT’s national-best 24.8 three-point percentage defense is 1.8 percent better than second- place Southeast Missouri State (26.6). That is the same gap as No. 2 to No. 19 Kentucky (28.4). Tennessee ranks third in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency (88.1), just shy of Houston (86.3) and Duke (87.8).
📊 FINAL NUMBERS
— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) January 12, 2025
Zeigler – 16p / 3r / 8a
Dubar – 12p / 6r
Gainey – 12p / 2a
Lanier – 10p / 4r
Okpara – 7p / 9r / 3b
Miličić – 7p / 6r
Mashack 6p / 2r / 2a
Phillips – 4p / 4r
Vols 74, Texas 70 pic.twitter.com/JQSAMqolAN
Igor Miličić Jr.
Miličić Jr., is one of 10 power conference players averaging at least 10.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg and 2.0 apg. Zeigler is seven assists away from 600, while his 209 steals put him three shy of Santiago Vescovi’s program record (212).
The Volunteers’ 99 wins over Georgia are their second-most against any school, trailing only their 131 against Vanderbilt. This is the first time in series history both sides are in the AP top 25. It is also the first time UT faces a ranked Georgia team since 2/8/03, a 78-72 home win.
Tennessee is 18-7 (.720) versus AP top-25 teams at home under Rick Barnes, including 13-1 (.929) in the last 14 such games.
^Georgia vs Tennessee Series History
Tennessee leads 99-61 and won the lone matchup last season, 85-79 in Athens when it was ranked No. 5 despite UGA leading by as many as 11 in the second half. But UT closed out the contest on a 21-4 surge. In the Bulldogs’ last trip to Knoxville on Jan. 25, 2023, Georgia started quickly but could not maintain that pace, dropping a 70-41 decision to No. 4 Tennessee.
^Our first @MarchMadnessMBB bracket: https://t.co/GpecJBpyu5
— Andy Katz (@TheAndyKatz) January 14, 2025
Previous Betting News | MyBookie News Archive
Georgia vs Tennessee Preview
Georgia travels to Knoxville to battle #3 Tennessee on the hardcourt this Saturday, Jan. 5. The Bulldogs are 8-4, but Tennessee is one of their first SEC battles. A win over the Vols should turn some heads. Can the Bulldogs pull off the upset? Or will Tennessee punish Georgia?
Georgia vs Tennessee NCAAB Lines & Betting Pick
- When: Saturday, Jan. 5 at 3:30 pm ET
- Where: Thomas-Boiling Arena, Knoxville, TN
- TV: SEC Net
- Radio: Georgia / Tennessee
- Live Stream: WatchESPN
- ATS Odds: Off (-110)
- Over/Under Total Odds: Off (-110)
Why Georgia Bulldogs are a good bet ATS?
Since the embarrassing 67-91 loss to Georgia State, the Bulldogs have been on a roll, winning 5-of-6. Their only loss in their last 6 games was to Pac 12 leading Arizona State. Georgia lost 74-76. So, the Bulldogs had a chance to beat the Sun Devils.
Tennessee’s the much more popular team right now because the Vols battled some tough out of conference foes. However, this is the first SEC game for both teams. Georgia figures to ratchet up the intensity facing a highly ranked squad like Tennessee.
Team Statistics
Offense:
- Points/G: 79.2
- Field Goal %: 47.8
- 3-Point %: 34.7
- Free Throw %: 73.8
- Rebounds/G: 43.2
Defense:
- Points/G: 70.5
- Field Goal %: 38
- 3-Point %: 29.8
- Free Throw %: 66.8
- Rebounds/G: 31.1
Why #3 Tennessee Volunteers are a good bet ATS?
The Volunteers lone loss this season was 81-87 in overtime to college basketball power Kansas on a neutral court. Other than losing to Kansas, Tennessee’s been great. The Vols already have quality wins over Memphis, Gonzaga, Louisville, Georgetown, and Wake Forest.
Georgia could play as well as it can and it shouldn’t come close to upsetting Tennessee on their home floor. The Vols are loaded this season. They’ll show their SEC opponent how good they really are.
Team Statistics
Offense:
- Points/G: 85.5
- Field Goal %: 51.1
- 3-Point %: 34.9
- Free Throw %: 72.3
- Rebounds/G: 40.5
Defense:
- Points/G: 66.4
- Field Goal %: 37.7
- 3-Point %: 29.7
- Free Throw %: 65.4
- Rebounds/G: 31
NCAAB Betting Trends for Georgia vs Tennessee
- Georgia is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
- Georgia is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Georgia’s last 6 games
- Tennessee is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
- Tennessee is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Georgia
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tennessee’s last 6 games when playing at home against Georgia
Georgia vs Tennessee Final NCAAB Betting Analysis
Losing to Georgia State’s not as big of deal as many believe because it happened so early in the season. Villanova lost to Fuhrman and they bounced back with some quality wins.
Georgia could do the same. More importantly, the Bulldogs will get plenty of points in this battle on Saturday. They should have no trouble at least covering the spread against Tennessee. If the Volunteers overlook the Bulldogs, UGA could pull off the SU upset.
NCAAB Basketball Pick: Georgia ATS
MyBookie College Basketball
NCAAB Odds and Lines
NCAAB Betting |
March Madness Odds |
NIT | CIT | CBI |
National Championship Championship |
NCAAB Must-Know
John R. Wooden Award |
March Madness Predictions |
Latest NCAAB Betting Predictions:
- Georgia at Tennessee College Basketball Lines, 2025 Expert Analysis & Prediction in Week 11
- Texas A&M at Kentucky NCAA Basketball Odds, 2025 Expert Analysis & Prediction in Week 11
- Get Your 2025 College Basketball National Championship Odds Today
- Bet UCLA at Maryland NCAAB Lines, Spread, Totals, Prediction & Preview
- Oregon at Ohio State College Basketball Odds, Spread, Total & Prediction