#15 Missouri vs #4 Tennessee: Odds, Predictions & Key Insights | February 5, 2025

GAME OF THE NIGHT

Two defensive powerhouses collide tonight in Knoxville, setting up a gritty, low-scoring battle. Missouri and Tennessee are both coming off statement wins, but their slow tempo and defensive strengths could dictate the pace. With both teams eyeing bigger matchups ahead, expect a physical game where points come at a premium.

Let’s get into the game of the night!

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#15 Missouri vs #4 Tennessee Odds

How will Missouri handle Tennessee on the road? Coming off their massive win over Mississippi State?

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

Missouri: +9 (-111)

Tennessee: -9 (-109)

Total

Over: 134.5 (-118)

Under: 134.5 (-102)

Moneyline

Missouri: +360

Tennessee: -450

#15 Missouri vs #4 Tennessee Best Bet

Two teams, two big wins, and one low-scoring battle on deck tonight.

Missouri pulled off a big road win over Mississippi State as a 6.5-point underdog, while Tennessee dominated Florida by 20. This matchup has “letdown” written all over it, especially with both teams thriving on defense and preferring a slow, methodical pace. Tennessee plays at the 27th-slowest tempo in the country, while Missouri tends to slow things down on the road, ranking 247th in tempo away from home.

Tennessee’s defense has been elite all season, ranking second in adjusted defensive efficiency, first in effective field goal percentage defense, and first in perimeter defense. They are a defensive juggernaut. Their only real flaw is defensive rebounding, ranking 194th overall, but that improves to 73rd at home. Outside of that, they are top 50 in every major defensive category.

Missouri on the Road

The Tiger’s offense is coming off a red-hot shooting night, hitting 15-of-32 from beyond the arc and 18-of-28 inside against a Mississippi State team that has struggled with perimeter defense all season. Now, the Tigers face the best perimeter defense in the country, on the road, in Knoxville.

Defensively, Missouri ranks 16th in adjusted efficiency and is one of the best teams in the country at forcing turnovers, ranking 37th on the road. However, they struggle with fouling, ranking second-worst in free throw rate defense. Fortunately for them, they also rank 283rd in free throw percentage, essentially canceling out that disadvantage.

With both teams coming off emotional wins, expect a sluggish offensive start and a heavy reliance on defense. Most advanced analytics project this game finishing around 132 points, but I see it staying under 130. Root for bricks!