#1 Tennessee vs #8 Florida: Odds, Predictions & Key Insights | January 7, 2025

Tuesday’s game of the night features a top-ten SEC showdown between the undefeated Tennessee Volunteers and the 13-1 Florida Gators, who are looking to bounce back after their first loss of the season to #10 Kentucky. Florida, back at home, is in a prime position to make a statement against the top team in the country. With a road trip to Arkansas looming, securing a win here would be crucial for the Gators as they aim to stay in the hunt for the SEC crown.

Write Up Transparency

Be sure to follow me on X/Twitter @C_marchio2 to get my full card every day! Check my Action profile on the Action app @cmarchio. Picks are always FREE.

Last Month in CBB: 39-33 (-0.84 Units)

Last Week in CBB: 10-9 (-2.63 Units)

#1 Tennessee vs #6 Florida Odds

Can Florida bounce back from their first loss and take down the number one team in the country?

Odds are courtesy of BetOnline, a longtime fixture among the top online sports betting sites. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then bag a big bonus (100% if your first deposit is with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or another cryptocurrency) to bet on College Basketball games.

Spread

Tennessee: +2.5 (-115)

Florida: -2.5 (-105)

Total

Over: 148.5 (-115)

Under: 148.5 (-105)

Moneyline

Tennessee: +112

Florida: -134

#1 Tennessee vs #6 Florida Bet

Arguably the game of the week, this top-ten SEC matchup features the undefeated Tennessee Volunteers against the 13-1 Florida Gators, who suffered their first loss on Saturday to #10 Kentucky. This game has “bounce-back” written all over it for Florida, as they find themselves in a tough spot. After Tuesday night, the Gators head on the road to face the Razorbacks on Saturday, so securing at least one win between now and then is crucial. A victory over the number one team in the country holds even greater significance.

Do Not Doubt Florida

Despite suffering their first loss of the season, Florida has been exceptional. Haslametrics ranks them 19th in momentum, while Tennessee sits at 302nd. At home, Florida boasts one of the nation’s top offenses, ranked 14th, along with a top-50 defense. Known for their fast pace, they also excel defensively, ranking 8th in eFG% defense, top 50 in turnover percentage defense, and top 15 in two-point defense. Most importantly, they rank 52nd in free throw rate defense, rarely sending opponents to the line. Against top-100 teams this season, the Gators have struggled only with forcing turnovers, ranking 289th, but they are strong in every other major statistical category.

Though Tennessee is one of the best teams in the country away from home, they may face a challenging night. Florida’s fast pace could force the Volunteers out of their comfort zone. Tennessee, ranked 62nd in tempo, could struggle to adapt to Florida’s speed. The fastest team they have faced this season was Illinois, whom they narrowly defeated 66-64 in the final seconds. Outside of that, the Volunteers have only faced three teams inside the top 100 away from home.

It will be interesting to see how much this line moves in favor of the Gators. If you do not see Florida’s moneyline at this number, just wait—it will likely see some steam on Tennessee eventually. Florida seems to be in the better spot, back at home after a tough loss, facing the top team in the country.

Go Gators! Chomp! Chomp!