Surging Bulldogs Travel to Tennessee as Heavy Underdogs

The Georgia Bulldogs (12-6 SU, 9-8 ATS) have won three straight games but are double-digit road underdogs in a crucial SEC game Wednesday night against the No. 16 Tennessee Volunteers (13-4 SU, 10-7 ATS). Tennessee has beaten Georgia in 13 of their last 16 meetings at Thompson-Boling Arena.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

Sportsbooks of three of their last four games, the Volunteers opened as a 13-point home favorite. The betting edge for this matchup lies within the total, which is set at just 140.

Georgia News & Notes

With Tom Crean in his third year as Georgia’s head coach, the Bulldogs have their highest win percentage (.667) since the 2002 season.

Georgia is averaging 77.67 points per game to rank 55th in the nation but struggles defensively, ranking outside the top 200 in points allowed per game, opponent field-goal percentage and rebounding.

Crean has toyed with the starting lineup, with seven players having seen the Sportsbook tip. Leading the way is sophomore guard Sahvir Wheeler, who averages 13.6 points and tops the SEC at 7.4 assists per game.

Tennessee News & Notes

The Volunteers pride themselves on the defensive side of the ball and enter this game seventh in the country in points allowed per contest at a shade under 60. They also rank in the top 20 in limiting opponents to a field-goal percentage of 39.22.

Tennessee has won 10 of 12 home games this season and is coming off a dominant second half against Kentucky, outscoring the visiting Wildcats by 19 points after the break on the way to an 82-71 win on Saturday.

The Volunteers have one of the most balanced scoring attacks in college basketball. Freshman guard Jaden Springer leads the way at 10.5 points per game, junior guard Victor Bailey and senior forward John Fulkerson both average 10.4, and four other players average 8.4 or more. Freshman standout Keon Johnson (10.1 ppg) is coming off a career-high 27 points against Kentucky.

Betting Pick: OVER 140 points

Expect the Bulldogs to push the tempo from the start. They rank 16th in the country in pace of play and have averaged over 78 points in their last three games. If Georgia gets to 65, the OVER should cash with ease as Tennessee takes this one in a higher-scoring battle than the oddsmakers anticipate.