Tennessee vs Syracuse

Tennessee’s senior floor general Ja'Kobi Gillespie leads a Volunteers team that has ripped through a tough early schedule to a 7-1 start, with the only blemish a narrow neutral-site loss to Kansas, while Syracuse limps in on a three-game skid and still likely missing leading scorer Donnie Freeman, who has sat out multiple recent games with a lingering issue. Tennessee owns clear advantages in both scoring margin and rebounding, and this group already proved itself in Vegas with wins over Rutgers and No. 3 Houston, whereas the Orange were outclassed in the same event and have struggled to generate efficient offense without Freeman. Add in that Tennessee has taken the last four meetings in the series, including a 96-70 blowout last season, and the Volunteers’ deeper, more physical roster gives them a strong edge even in their first true road game, making Tennessee -315 the logical side on the moneyline—albeit at a price that caps the value at a Grade B rather than elite. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 02/12/2025 09:39am

Syracuse’s offense without Donnie Freeman has looked considerably less explosive during this three-game losing streak, and now the Orange face a Tennessee defense that is holding opponents in the mid-60s while controlling the glass and limiting second-chance looks, a profile that tends to drag totals down on the road. The Volunteers can certainly score in the 80s, but they’ve also shown a willingness to grind in the halfcourt, and their length on the perimeter against a relatively young Syracuse backcourt—headlined by Kiyan Anthony—should force longer possessions and tougher jumpers than the Orange usually see at home. With the total trimmed from earlier market numbers into the mid-140s and the under further supported by Syracuse’s recent offensive dip and Tennessee’s first true road environment in a loud Dome (often leading to a few more turnovers and timeouts), the Under 145.5 at -110 gets a Grade B- as a solid but not slam-dunk position. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 02/12/2025 09:39am

Nate Ament’s scoring punch alongside Gillespie gives Tennessee multiple matchup problems for a Syracuse front line that has leaned heavily on William Kyle III inside and doesn’t have Freeman available to balance the offensive load, which showed in the Orange’s three straight losses against top-tier competition. Tennessee’s size and depth up front—Ament, Jaylen Carey, and J.P. Estrella—should translate into a clear rebounding edge and plenty of high-quality looks at the rim, and the Vols have already banked several double-digit wins against better defenses than what they’ll see here. Syracuse is 3-0 at home and the Dome will be rocking, but given the recent form gap, the series history favoring Tennessee, and the structural advantages on the glass and in late-game shot creation, laying the -7 with the Volunteers at -110 earns a Grade B-, reflecting decent value for a side that could separate late but still carries normal road and backdoor-cover risk. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 02/12/2025 09:39am