The Miami Hurricanes take on the Tennessee Volunteers in New York, NY. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Tennessee is favored by 14.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -1700. The total is set at 144 points.
Here are my Miami vs. Tennessee predictions and college basketball picks for December 10, 2024.
Miami vs Tennessee Prediction
My Pick: Tennessee -16.5 (Play to -18)
My Miami vs Tennessee best bet is on the Volunteers spread, with the best odds currently available at FanDuel. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Miami vs Tennessee Odds, Spread
| Miami (FL) Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+14.5 -110 | 144 -110 / -110 | +950 |
| Tennessee Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-14.5 -110 | 144 -110 / -110 | -1700 |
- Miami vs Tennessee spread: Tennessee -14.5
- Miami vs Tennessee over/under: 144 points
- Miami vs Tennessee moneyline: Tennessee -1700, Miami +950
- Miami vs Tennessee best bet: Tennessee -16.5
My Miami vs Tennessee College Basketball Betting Preview
Miami Basketball
Calling the past three weeks a nightmare for the Miami Hurricanes probably undersells their struggles. Losers of six consecutive games, Miami hopes for a change of fortune this week. The bad news is it will have to triumph over the new No. 1-ranked Tennessee Volunteers.
Miami went a nightmarish 4-for-26 from 3 in Saturday's 65-55 loss to Clemson in Coral Gables.
The main problem Miami has endured this year is having the worst defense at the high-major level, ranking 260th in defensive efficiency (per KenPom). Holding Clemson to 65 points and 1.10 PPP isn't awful, since this same Canes team let Charleston Southern go off for 1.22 PPP.
Miami also doesn't really run an offense. It's a bunch of hero-ball, as shown by Miami's 13.3 assists per game.
Shooting is the one area of offensive struggle for the Hurricanes, as they shoot 33% from 3.
Opponents shoot a blistering 36% from 3 against Miami and 52% from 2-point range. The Hurricanes' defense has zero aggression, doesn't force turnovers and struggles with leaving shooters open.
I only have faith in two of Miami's players — leading scorer Nijel Pack, who leads the Hurricanes with 14 points per game, and 7-footer Lynn Kidd, who rarely gets the ball.
Kidd is a terrific interior option, but he's attempted more than 10 shots in just one game. Given how bad Miami is, why not focus on getting Kidd the ball to open up the floor for shooters?
It almost feels like a lost cause in Coral Gables.
Tennessee Basketball
After Kansas and Auburn suffered losses, the Volunteers are now the No. 1-ranked team in college basketball.
Tennessee is well-deserving of the top ranking, as it sits 8-0 with four wins over high-major opponents. All eight wins came by 15+ points.
The Vols have played just two teams ranked inside KenPom's top 60 — Baylor and Louisville — and dismantled both.
Gone are the days when Rick Barnes had offenses that halted Tennessee's chances of making a deep NCAA Tournament run. Even last year, when Tennessee made it to the Elite Eight, it ranked 36th in offensive efficiency.
This year, Tennessee boasts the ninth-most efficient offense in college basketball.
The Vols are highly efficient from both the 2- and 3-point ranges. They shoot 37% from 3 and 60% from 2, which gives opposing defenses a ton to contemplate.
I would credit Chaz Lanier for a lot of Tennessee's offensive success, as he's one of the nation's most efficient players. He's not Dalton Knecht, but he isn't far off, leading Tennessee with 18 points per game on 47% shooting and 44% from 3.
Lanier might be Tennessee's best player, but floor general Zakai Zeigler is its most important. The senior point guard is not only one of the premier on-ball defenders in America, but he's the catalyst for the Vols' offense.
They have the 49th-highest assist rate in America, largely due to Zeigler's 7.9 dimes, which ranks fifth nationally. Very few teams have a better lead guard than Zeigler, and he will look to lock down Pack.
The Canes could learn a thing or two from Tennessee's dominant defense. Barnes is known for his defensive acumen, and it continues into 2024-25, as Tennessee ranks second in defensive efficiency, only behind Duke.
The aggressive nature Tennessee's defense plays with forces teams into late-clock 3s and a lot of one-on-one possessions.
That feels like bait for a Miami team that is fully willing to toss up bad shots from downtown.
Miami vs Tennessee Betting Analysis
One of the main things I'm keeping an eye on is Tennessee creating second chances via offensive rebounds. The Vols have the second-highest offensive rebounding rate in America, securing offensive boards on 42% of their possession.
In contrast, the Hurricanes' 129th ranking in defensive rebounding rate could leave them susceptible on the glass.
If you have bet on Tennessee so far this season, it's proven to be a highly-profitable endeavor. Tennessee is 7-1 against the spread, failing to cover in just one of its eight games.
I get the spread is high, but Tennessee is arguably the best team in the country, one fully capable of blowing teams out. Meanwhile, Miami looks disinterested at times.
How could I not take Tennessee here? It feels like a home run, even with the spread approaching 17 points.
