The Northern Kentucky Norse take on the Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville, TN. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. ET on SEC Network+.
Tennessee is favored by -28 points on the spread, and the total is set at 140.5 points.
Here are my Northern Kentucky vs. Tennessee predictions and college basketball picks for November 8, 2025.
Northern Kentucky vs Tennessee Prediction
My Pick: Tennessee -25.5 (Play to -28)
My Northern Kentucky vs Tennessee best bet is on the Vols to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Northern Kentucky vs. Tennessee Odds
| Northern Kentucky Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+28 -110 | 140.5 -110 / -110 | OFF |
| Tennessee Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-28 -110 | 140.5 -110 / -110 | OFF |
- Northern Kentucky vs Tennessee spread: Tennessee -28
- Northern Kentucky vs Tennessee over/under: 140.5 points
Northern Kentucky vs Tennessee College Basketball Betting Preview
Northern Kentucky Basketball
Darrin Horn’s program has been one of the most consistent in the Horizon League in recent history. Since he took over in 2019, the Norse have won 11+ league games every season, accumulating a 75-41 record against the conference over that span. Horn employs a tricky matchup zone that consistently levels the playing field, and his ability to find gems in the transfer portal and at lower levels of basketball has amped up the Norse’s talent level.
However, this has been a rough spot for NKU over the years. The new Norse take time to learn Horn’s zone, and the nonconference has been a scourge while they figure it out. Since 2020, NKU is 13-27 (32.5%) against the spread in nonconference games. Only two teams in the country are worse in that same timeframe.
On a more positive note, NKU’s season got off to a strong start. The Norse torched non-Division I foe Cincinnati Clermont, 126-69, scoring at will in a 90-possession track meet. Everyone played well, and the Norse dominated every aspect of the game (forced 22 turnovers, won rebounding battle 57-24, shot 73% from 2 and 43% from 3).
Returners LJ Wells, an active forward, and Dan Gherezgher, a combo guard, anchor the lineup. Once again, Horn mined Division II (Kael Robinson, Shawn Nelson) and NAIA (Tae Dozier) for additional useful pieces. That group provides length and productivity on the glass.
The biggest question mark for the Norse is at point guard, where they started freshman Ethan Elliott in the opener. Cal State Fullerton transfer Donovan Oday and Gherezgher can handle some secondary creation, but Elliott and Nelson could shoulder heavy burdens as they step into a new level of competition.
Tennessee Basketball
It’s a Rick Barnes Tennessee team. You are, at minimum, getting a fantastic defensive team, capable of swallowing even the best offenses with length and physicality within the framework of a stout man-to-man. Barnes’ Vols have landed in the top five of KenPom’s defensive rankings for five straight seasons, and Monday’s 76-61 win against Mercer hinted at a sixth on the way.
Felix Okpara is the interior cornerstone of the unit. A massive 6-11 center with terrific shot-blocking instincts, Okpara can completely shut the water off at the rim for Tennessee’s opponents. The Vols’ frontcourt is deep, as well, with another 6-11 cent, in JP Estrel, waiting in the wings, along with physical forward Jaylen Carey, Cade Phillips, and DeWayne Brown.
All of that size has pushed revelatory freshman Nate Ament to the wing, where the slender shot maker could thrive as a mismatch scorer. Few opposing wings will be able to contest his high release, and his debut – 18 points, nine rebounds – foreshadowed a massive rookie year in Knoxville.
Elsewhere, though, the offensive production was sparse, and that can be the Achilles heel of a Barnes team. Star transfer Ja’Kobi Gillespie battled through a dismal offensive night, but he is a proven power conference commodity and should bounce back in short order. The questions come with Bishop Boswell, Ethan Burg, Amaree Abra, and Troy Henderson, the cast of characters set to fill the non-Gillespie, non-Ament perimeter minutes. Boswell has tremendous defensive upside but is not a scorer, while Burg has an impressive offensive toolkit but must prove he can defend up to Barnes’ expectations.
Overall, Tennessee tallied just 1.09 points per possession against Mercer despite shooting 41% from deep and completely dominating the offensive glass. Turnover issues abounded, and despite the Vols’ size and physicality, they struggled to get to the free throw line. The scoring questions will linger with this team.
Northern Kentucky vs. Tennessee Betting Analysis
I am inclined to back the favorite here, as NKU has been so poor in the non-conference and is integrating a huge swath of newcomers into Horn’s system. The opener was barely indicative of real basketball, as a 90-possession track meet will almost certainly not happen again this year for the Norse. I am unsure how they score against Tennessee’s massive frontline.
One concern for the Vols remains turnovers. Mercer’s best conduit to points was via its defense, and NKU’s zone, for its many warts, does force a plethora of turnovers when it is functioning correctly. Tennessee must offset that disadvantage by crushing NKU on the glass, which is a near certainty, fortunately for me/us.
Also fortunate: Tennessee excels in this scenario. In the Vols' last 30 games as a home favorite of 20+ points, the Vols are 19-11 against the spread. The impenetrable interior defense should lead the way, and with a much better game from Gillespie, the Vols should have enough offensive juice to cover a big number.
I expect this number to rise quickly, as most big home favorites do at this point in the season. Barnes surely has his players’ attention after the lackluster effort against Mercer, and I expect a home run-focused effort from the Vols. I would lay up to -28 here.
My Pick: Tennessee -25.5 (Play up to -28)
