Colorado Buffaloes vs Tennessee Volunteers Prediction, 12/8/2020 College Basketball Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Colorado Buffaloes vs Tennessee Volunteers

Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Location: Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN

TV: SECN+

Odds/Point Spread: Colorado (+3.5)

The Colorado Buffaloes (2-0) head to Thompson-Boling Arena on Tuesday where they'll meet the Tennessee Volunteers (17-14 last season). Tennessee opens this contest as 3.5-point favorites. The O/U has been set at 137.5.

Colorado comes into this matchup with a win-loss mark of 2-0 so far this season. They are averaging 80.0 pts per contest (82nd in D-1) while going 44.4% from the field. The Buffaloes are connecting on 34.8% on 3-point shots (16 of 46) and 88.9% from the free throw line. As a team, Colorado is pulling down 37.0 rebounds per contest and has totaled 33 assists for the year, which ranks 219th in D-1 in terms of passing. They are losing possession via turnover 9.5 times per contest and as a squad are committing 17.5 fouls per game. When they are on defense, the Buffaloes have forced 15.0 turnovers per contest and they draw 18.5 personal fouls. The Buffaloes defense is giving up a field goal percentage of 38.3% (41 of 107) and they relinquish 32.5 boards per game as a squad. They are 41st in college hoops in allowing assists to the opposition with 23 surrendered for the campaign. They relinquish 28.3% from beyond the arc while they are 39th in college basketball in points per game from their opponents (59.5).

The Colorado Buffaloes played the Kansas State Wildcats and walked away with a win by a score of 76-58 in their last contest. Colorado finished the game with a 49.1% field goal percentage (26 out of 53) and buried 6 of their 21 three-point shots. From the free throw line, the Buffaloes made 18 of 21 shots for a rate of 85.7%. In relation to grabbing rebounds, they earned 24 with 5 of them being offensive. They also doled out 13 assists for the contest in addition to having 6 steals and 2 rejections. Pertaining to defending, Colorado allowed the other team to go 49.1% from the floor on 26 of 53. Kansas State dished out 14 dimes and 3 steals for this contest. Additionally, the Wildcats had 23 boards (3 offensive, 20 defensive) and added 2 blocks. Kansas State finished the game shooting 60.0% when shooting free throws by making 6 of 10 attempts. They converted 10 of their 26 tries from distance.

McKinley Wright is one player who saw a lot of action for the contest. He accumulated 24 points on 10 of 16 shooting. He played 39 mins and totaled 5 rebounds. Wright walked away from this one shooting 62.5% from the floor and also recorded 5 dimes. An additional guy that saw the court a lot in this game for the Buffaloes was Eli Parquet. He collected 4 rebounds and also tallied 2 dimes. He finished the contest at 60.0% from the floor for the game by connecting on 3-of-5 (9 points). Overall, Parquet was on the court for 37 min.

Tennessee had a mark of 17-14 last season. The Volunteers committed 18.2 fouls every game and they hit 74.9% from the charity stripe. They earned an assist 14.5 times per contest (123rd in college basketball) and they lost possession by turning the ball over 13.6 times per game. Tennessee accounted for 2,079 points over the course of last year (67.1 per contest) and they snagged 34.5 boards per game. On the offensive side of the ball, the Volunteers connected on 43.2% from the floor, which ranked them 229th in the nation. The Volunteers defensively were ranked 90th in D-1 in PPG given up with 64.2. They forced 13.0 turnovers per game and let teams shoot 40.2% from the floor (110th in college hoops). The Tennessee defense gave up 33.1% on 3-point attempts (195 of 590) and opponents connected on 70.6% of their free throw attempts. They conceded 9.9 dimes and 33.4 boards every game, which was ranked 52nd and 93rd in college hoops.

When they last stepped on the hardwood, the Tennessee Volunteers walked away from this one with a loss by a score of 85-63 when they played the Auburn Tigers. The Volunteers were able to snag 14 defensive boards and 9 offensive boards totaling 23 for this game. They also rejected 4 shots while getting 6 steals in this game. The Tigers were called for 22 fouls for this contest which got the Volunteers to the free throw line for 24 attempts. They were able to convert 19 of the free throw tries for a percentage of 79.2%. In relation to 3-point attempts, Tennessee knocked down 8 out of 22 tries (36.4%). Overall, the Volunteers went 18 for 54 from the floor which had them at 33.3%. The Volunteers allowed the Tigers to bury 29 out of their 58 attempts from the floor which gave them a shooting percentage of 50.0% for this contest. They went 43.8% from three-point range by connecting on 14 of 32 and ended up going 13 out of 19 at the charity stripe (68.4%). When it comes to rebounding, Tennessee allowed Auburn to get 38 in all (11 offensive).

John Fulkerson ended up playing a lot for the Volunteers for the contest. He buried 5 out of 10 for the game for a field goal rate of 50.0%, which earned him 19 points. Fulkerson grabbed 7 rebounds in his 36 mins and had 2 assists for the contest. Another guy who came through for Tennessee was Jordan Bowden. He notched 17 points in his 37 minutes on the court by going 4 of 11 shooting in this contest. Bowden walked away from this one going 36.4% from the floor while contributing 4 assists and 4 boards.

Who will win tonight's college basketball game against the spread?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Tennessee (-3.5)

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