Colorado vs Tennessee Odds and Picks
- The Tennessee Volunteers finally kick off their season on Tuesday, hosting the Colorado Buffaloes as 5.5-point favorites
- Both the Vols’ and Buffaloes’ early-season schedules have been disrupted by COVID-19, but Colorado has impressed in SU wins over South Dakota and Kansas State
- See the odds and trends ahead of Tuesday evening’s matchup at Thompson-Boling Arena
Two teams that have seen their early-season schedule disrupted by postponements and cancellations are set to clash on Tuesday evening, as the Tennessee Volunteers play host to the Colorado Buffaloes as 5.5-point favorites at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville at 6:00 pm ET.
The Volunteers have managed to hold steady at No. 12 in the AP Top 25 rankings despite seeing the first three dates on their schedule cancelled. The Buffaloes have been idle since November 27, when they tallied a decisive 76-58 win over Kansas State to improve to 2-0 SU. Colorado will be aiming to win three in a row away from home for the first time since last November in Tuesday’s clash at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Colorado Buffaloes vs Tennessee Volunteers Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Buffaloes | +5.5 (-115) | +198 | O 136.5 (-110) |
| Tennessee Volunteers | -5.5 (-105) | -240 | U 136.5 (-110) |
Odds taken at FanDuel on Dec. 7, 2020
Vols on the Rebound
The Volunteers enter the new season with high hopes after a disappointing 2019/2020 campaign. Tennessee struggled down the stretch, posting consecutive SU wins just once during a season-ending 5-8 SU run. However, the club has undergone a serious makeover during the offseason, with forward John Fulkerson and guard Yves Pons the only seniors returning.
#Vols finish the regular season 17-14, but absolutely should have beaten Auburn and South Carolina on the road and Memphis and Texas A&M in Knoxville.
Just those blown games would have UT certainly in the NCAA Tournament. So disappointing.
— Big T (@ConnerHKnapp) March 7, 2020
The reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Pons emerged as an offensive contributor last season, averaging 10.8 points per game to go along with his 5.4 rebounds per game. Greater offensive contributions are expected from second year guards Josiah-Jordan James and Santiago Vescovi. But it is the arrival of blue-chip backcourt prospects Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer that could take Tennessee to the next level.
Rust a Factor After Pause in Activities
However, with the Vols yet to see action so far this season, it is tough to know what to expect in their COVID-delayed season opener. Rust could be an issue. The squad was forced to pause all activities on November 23 after several team members tested positive for COVID-19, including head coach Rick Barnes. The team got the green light to resume practice this past weekend, but with such little time available to gel as a group, the Vols are likely to open their campaign with a veteran lineup.
https://twitter.com/Madison4Blevins/status/1336043638099423237?s=20
Starting their season on home hardwood should alleviate some concerns over preparation. Despite their struggles last season, the Volunteers finished strong at home, overcoming a shaky start in conference play with three SU wins in their final four outings. Success at the sportsbooks is another matter. Tennessee has work to do to overcome last season’s dismal 5-11 ATS home record.
The Vols have also been a disappointment as small favorites, going 1-4 SU and ATS in their five most recent home dates while favored by six or fewer points. Tennessee’s struggles to pay out at the sportsbooks can be linked to a drop off in offensive production that left the team ranked a distant 287th in the nation last season with just 67.1 points scored per game. That’s a number they topped at home just four times since last November.
Buffaloes Making the Best of Cobbled Schedule
While the Buffaloes have been burdened by coronavirus-related disruptions of their own, they have risen to the occasion in the two outings they managed to get in at last month’s Little Apple Classic. Colorado followed up an impressive 84-61 beat down of South Dakota in their season opener with a 76-58 win over Kansas State, and elected to take their matchup with Tennessee after seeing this past weekend’s scheduled contests with Arizona and Washington State cancelled.
SU winners in 21 games last season, the Buffaloes finished the campaign on a low note, falling to defeat in each of their five final outings, capped by an 82-68 loss to Washington State in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament. That futility has extended to the road, where Colorado finished lasted season on a 2-6 SU and ATS run.
Wright Powering Colorado Attack
The Buffaloes expected to feel the loss of center Tyler Bey, who departed for the NBA after leading the squad in rebounds, steals, and blocks, and finishing second in points per game. The squad also enjoys a little less veteran experience after seeing shooters Shane Gatling and Lucas Siewert graduate.
Pac-12 Player of the Week honors on the hoops front go to McKinley Wright IV, as he scored 20 points vs. South Dakota and 24 against K-State.
He joins Askia Booker and Chauncey Billups as the only Buffaloes to win three conference player of the week awards at Colorado.
— Justin Guerriero (@GuerrieroTrib) November 30, 2020
However, guard McKinley Wright IV has shone in the early going, draining 22.0 points per game. And if the Buffaloes can avoid the sloppy start they were forced to overcome against K-State, they are well positioned to cover in Tennessee on Tuesday night.
Pick: Buffaloes +5.5 (-115); UNDER 136.5
Daniel has been writing about sports and sports betting for over 23 years. The seasoned pro has contributed to the likes of Sports Illustrated, Sportsnet, NESN, Bleacher Report, OddsShark, the Globe and Mail, and The Nation magazine.
