Rice Owls vs Tennessee Volunteers Prediction, 11/17/2025 College Basketball Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Rice Owls vs Tennessee Volunteers

Date: Monday, November 17, 2025

Location: Food City Center in Knoxville, TN

TV: SEC Network

The Tennessee Volunteers (3-0) will try to defeat the Rice Owls (1-2) at Food City Center on Monday.

The Rice Owls played Stephen F. Austin and walked away from this one with a loss by a score of 81-69 in their last contest. Rice finished the contest having earned a 35.1% FG percentage (20 of 57) and knocked down 6 out of their 14 shots from distance. At the charity stripe, the Owls knocked down 23 of their 34 shots for a rate of 67.6%. In regard to hauling in rebounds, they collected 33 with 11 of them being of the offensive variety. They also distributed 9 dimes in this matchup while creating 9 turnovers and having 5 steals. When discussing defending, Rice allowed 49.1% from the field on 27 of 55 shooting. Stephen F. Austin earned 12 assists and had 6 steals in this contest. In addition, Stephen F. Austin snagged 30 boards (4 offensive, 26 defensive), but didn't notch a block. Stephen F. Austin finished shooting 73.9% from the free throw line by making 17 of 23 tries. They also knocked down 10 out of their 23 attempts from beyond the perimeter. In reference to personal fouls, the Owls ended up finishing with 16 and Stephen F. Austin racked up 24 personal fouls.

Trae Broadnax is a guy who was a major contributor in this matchup. He recorded 21 points on 5 of 12 shooting. He played 31 minutes played and also snagged 3 rebounds. He finished shooting 41.7% from the field and dished out 1 assist.

Get all of our NCAA Picks Today

Rice heads into this game with a mark of 1-2 on the campaign. They average 80.3 points per outing (186th in the nation) while shooting 43.0% from the field. The Owls are connecting on 42.0% on shots from distance (29 of 69) and 72.2% from the charity stripe. As a team, Rice is collecting 42.3 rebounds per game and has racked up 45 dimes for the campaign, which ranks 189th in college hoops in terms of passing the rock. They turn the ball over 11.3 times per contest and as a squad are committing 21.0 fouls per contest.

Defensively, the Owls are able to force 15.7 turnovers per contest and they draw 18.3 fouls. They are surrendering 32.9% from beyond the arc and they rank 46th in Division 1 in PPG from their opponents (62.0). The Owls defense is allowing a FG percentage of 36.5% (58 of 159) and they relinquish 34.3 boards per game as a group. They are 67th in the nation in allowing assists to the opposition with 28 relinquished for the campaign.

When they last stepped on the court, the Tennessee Volunteers took home the win by a final score of 99-66 against North Florida. The Volunteers were able to collect 32 defensive rebounds and 19 offensive rebounds totaling 51 in this contest. They also coughed up the ball 14 times, while getting 9 steals in the matchup. North Florida was called for 18 personal fouls in this contest which got the Volunteers to the charity stripe for a total of 24 attempts. They were able to bury 17 of the free throws for a percentage of 70.8%. In regard to three-point attempts, Tennessee converted 8 out of 27 attempts (29.6%). When all was said and done, the Volunteers walked away from this one shooting 37 for 71 from the field which had them sitting at 52.1%. The Volunteers allowed North Florida to convert 25 of their 65 attempts from the floor which gave them a percentage of 38.5% in this contest. They went 28.6% from 3-point land by shooting 10 out of 35 and walked away from this one shooting 6 of 12 from the free throw line (50.0%). When discussing how they rebounded, Tennessee permitted North Florida to get 22 overall (10 offensive).

J.P. Estrella ended up being a major contributor for the Volunteers in this game. He recorded 23 points in his 20 mins on the court and had 1 assist in this game. He buried 11 of 14 for this game for a rate of 78.6%, and had 10 rebounds.

Tennessee has a mark of 3-0 so far this season. As an offense, the Volunteers are shooting 51.3% from the floor, which is ranked 43rd in the country. Tennessee has accounted for 270 pts for the season (90.0 per contest) and they collect 51.0 boards per game. They are dishing out assists 23.0 times per game (10th in Division 1) and they lose possession by turning the ball over 15.0 times per game. The Volunteers are committing 14.3 personal fouls every game and they connect on 70.7% from the free throw line.

The Tennessee defense gives up 26.6% on shots from beyond the perimeter (25 of 94) and their opponents are converting on 56.5% of their shots from the free throw line. They concede 10.3 dimes and 27.0 boards every game, which ranks them 71st and 22nd in the nation. The Volunteers on the defensive end are ranked 39th in D-1 in PPG allowed with 61.0. They are able to force 12.3 TO's every game and have allowed teams to shoot 34.7% from the field (23rd in D-1).

Who will win tonight's NCAA game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Rice

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Get college basketball picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bets by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.