The first of two battles between these Volunteer State rivals can shake up the SEC standings.
The Tennessee Volunteers (19-7) sit in a three-way tie for second place in the conference at 9-4 with Arkansas and Alabama. The Vanderbilt Commodores (21-5), meanwhile, have split their last 10 games since a 16-0 start, good for a third-place tie in the SEC at 8-5.
Let’s look at a Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt prediction for Saturday’s showdown at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, tipping off at 2:00 p.m. ET on ESPN. Use PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks to make predictions on player picks, game winners, over/unders, spreads, and more.
{{nba_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}
Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt Prediction, Spread, Over/Under
The home team captured each of the two matchups last season. Vanderbilt edged out Tennessee, 76-75, as 5.5-point underdogs, while the Volunteers got revenge at home a month later, 81-76.
The Commodores were last favored against the Volunteers in 2017, ending a 17-game stretch as an underdog in the series.
These rivals close the regular season in Knoxville on Saturday, March 7.
Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt Spread, Over/Under
The Commodores enter this matchup as 3.5-point home favorites, returning a 1.56x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they win outright.
The Volunteers are road underdogs with a 2.27x payout if they win, via PrizePicks Team Picks.
- Spread: Vanderbilt Commodores -3.5
- Over/Under: 149.5
- Game Winner Payout: Tennessee 2.27x | Vanderbilt 1.56x
Team Picks data is live as of writing and is subject to change.
Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt Prediction on Spread
Here are some stats to know to get you set for Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt tonight, including insights on our Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt prediction.
- The Volunteers are 5-3 against the spread (ATS) since losing a 2-point decision to Kentucky on January 17.
- Vandy owns a 3-5 ATS mark in the last eight opportunities as a favorite. The Commodores failed to cover against Ole Miss and Oklahoma before beating Texas A&M, 82-69, as 7.5-point favorites.
- Tennessee ranks 14th in SEC play in 2-point shooting (49.3%), 13th in free throw shooting (69.8%), and 16th in turnover rate (18.0%).
- Vanderbilt leads the conference in free throw shooting at 79.2%. Their opponents convert 75.3% of their foul shots in SEC action.
- The Commodores dug themselves a 21-point hole at Missouri on Wednesday before creeping back to lose, 81-80, as 2.5-point favorites.
- Tennessee’s defensive efficiency is second in SEC play and 14th overall on the season.
- In six of their nine conference victories, the Vols limited opponents to below 50% shooting on effective field goal percentage.
Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt Picks for PrizePicks Today: 2/21/26
Here are three top Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt picks to target on Saturday. Key PrizePicks player projections are headlined by three players: Tennessee F Nate Ament, Vanderbilt G Tyler Tanner, and Volunteers G Ja’Kobi Gillespie.
Tennessee F Nate Ament vs. Vanderbilt Projection: 19.5 Points
- The freshman leads the Volunteers in scoring at 18.2 points per game (PPG).
- Ament topped the 20-point mark in five of the last six games, capped off by a 29-point showing in Wednesday’s rout of Oklahoma.
- Ament has compiled 49 points from the free throw line in the last six games.
- Vandy ranks 305th in the country in defensive free throw rate, allowing at least 25 FT attempts in four of the past five contests.
{{nba_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}
Vanderbilt G Tyler Tanner vs. Tennessee Projection: 20.5 Points
- Tanner didn’t start a game his freshman season but has been in the starting lineup in all 26 games this year.
- In the past five games, the sophomore scored at least 24 points four times. The outlier came in last Saturday’s blowout of Texas A&M, posting only 4 points in 31 minutes.
- Tanner bounced back in Wednesday’s 1-point defeat to Missouri, putting up 27 points.
- In six SEC home contests, Tanner's topped the 21-point mark three times. Twice he came up just short, with 20-point performances against Florida and LSU.
Tennessee G Ja’Kobi Gillespie vs. Vanderbilt Projection: 21.5 Pts + Rebs
- The senior is averaging 18.1 PPG after scoring 14.7 PPG at Maryland last season.
- Gillespie finished below this projection in four of the past six games, averaging 15.3 PPG and 2.5 rebounds per contest.
- Prior to this six-game stretch, the former Belmont Bruin eclipsed 22 points and rebounds in four straight outings.
- In the past four contests, Gillespie is shooting 12-of-36 from 3-point range. The Commodores rank 22nd in the nation in defensive 3-point shooting, limiting foes to makes on just 30.2% of their tries.
Make Tennessee vs. #19 Vanderbilt Picks on PrizePicks
Tennessee has turned it on of late with wins in seven of its past eight games. Can the Vols stay hot here with a trip to Vanderbilt? There’s never been a better time to add to the excitement of every CBB moment than with PrizePicks.
There are hundreds of player stat projections on the CBB board for every game; just pick at least two player stat projections to build your Lineup on PrizePicks. Or, make your picks on winners, spreads, and over/unders on Team Picks, now available in 34 states!
Check out the Playbook throughout the season for more CBB picks, predictions, and news every day.
