The Tennessee Volunteers take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Alabama is favored by 6.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -280. The total is set at 167.5 points.
Here’s my Tennessee vs. Alabama prediction and college basketball picks for January 24, 2026.
Tennessee vs Alabama Prediction
My Pick: Alabama ATS
My Tennessee vs Alabama best bet is on the Crimson Tide 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.
Tennessee vs. Alabama Odds, Spread
| Tennessee Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -110 | 167.5 -110o / -110u | +230 |
| Alabama Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -110 | 167.5 -110o / -110u | -280 |
- Tennessee vs Alabama spread: Alabama -6.5
- Tennessee vs Alabama over/under: 167.5 points
- Tennessee vs Alabama moneyline: Tennessee +230, Alabama -280
Tennessee vs Alabama NCAAB Betting Preview
Tennessee Basketball
After a near two-decade long tenure at Texas, Rick Barnes entered his 11th season as Volunteers head coach with high hopes after an Elite Eight appearance this past season.
Tennessee has had a very up-and-down 2026 campaign thus far, posting a 12-6 record over its first 18 games. Barnes’ Vols have lost two of their last three matchups in conference play, making their Saturday night road trip to Tuscaloosa even more significant.
In spite of the six losses that Barnes’ bunch has suffered over the first two months of the 2025-26 season, the Volunteers look well on their way to securing another NCAA Tournament bid, with big victories over the likes of Houston, Louisville and Texas.
Zakai Zeigler had been the primary operator for Tennessee's offense for years, and his graduation resulted in Barnes making some big offseason moves — notably landing the No. 4 overall recruit in the country in forward Nate Ament.
Ament has begun his collegiate career in impressive fashion, averaging over 15 points and six rebounds per game.
Aside from Barnes landing one of the best recruits in the country this offseason, he navigated the transfer portal very well, landing former Maryland guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie.
The 6-foot-1 senior leads an offense that ranks 40th in the country in offensive efficiency, according to Haslametrics, racking up just shy of 19 points per contest, while also tallying three rebounds and 5.5 assists on average.
On the other end of the floor, Barnes’ defense unsurprisingly ranks top-15 in the nation in defensive efficiency.
However, while being ranked inside the top 15 defensively is an impressive feat, Tennessee has actually taken a slight step back. In their three Elite Eight appearances throughout Barnes’ tenure, the Volunteers boasted a top-five defense in each of them.
Alabama Basketball
Likewise, Alabama has had a very up-and-down season thus far, entering this Saturday night matchup with a 13-5 overall record.
The Crimson Tide have made the NCAA Tournament in five consecutive seasons, missing just one bid throughout Nate Oats’ six-year tenure in Tuscaloosa.
Oats has completely transformed an Alabama basketball program that had made just two tournament appearances over a 15-year span under three different head coaches, most notably Oats’ predecessor and former Dallas Mavericks head coach, Avery Johnson.
Alabama has become a recruiting powerhouse under Oats, poaching several five-star recruits, including Brandon Miller, Herb Jones and Collin Sexton.
In 2025-26, the Crimson Tide head coach has continued to excel with his very advanced offensive coaching style.
While Alabama doesn't appear to be as talented as Oats’ last two rosters — which made the Final Four and Elite Eight back-to-back — his offense remains one of the best in college basketball, ranking third in the country in offensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
Leading the charge for the Crimson Tide is star guard Labaron Philon Jr. The 6-foot-4 sophomore is averaging 22 points per game, making him the eighth-leading scorer in the country. Philon is also recording five assists per contest, along with over three rebounds.
The Alabama star is a bona fide stud and remains projected by most scouts to be a lottery selection in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft.
Alongside Philon in Alabama’s backcourt is former Auburn Tiger and sharp-shooting point guard, Aden Holloway. The 6-foot-1 guard is also a prolific scorer, posting nearly 18 points per game.
In his first season under Oats, Holloway’s productivity from beyond the arc has continued.
On the other end of the floor, Alabama has made major strides defensively compared to last season’s roster, which allowed over 81 points per game. While Oats’ bunch still doesn't excel defensively, it ranks just outside the top 40 in defensive efficiency.
Alabama’s frontcourt has been very effective as rim protectors. Most notably, forwards Aiden Sherrell and Amari Allen have been stout presences defensively under the basket.
Tennessee vs. Alabama Betting Analysis
Saturday night’s contest will be a shootout and must-watch television. For two SEC foes that have been relatively inconsistent this season, this is a big chance for the winner to gain some momentum ahead of several challenging conference opponents.
This SEC battle is a tough handicap for what should be a closely-contested 40-minute matchup, with a ton of points expected.
I have to side with the Crimson Tide. The Alabama faithful should be a heavy presence in a packed gym, and despite how well Tennessee has played at times this season — like its victory over Houston — it's looked far worse in recent conference play.
My Pick: Alabama -3.5
