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Game of the Night

#1 Alabama vs #10 Tennessee

Location: Thompson-Boling Arena - Knoxville, TN

Tip-Off: 7:00 PM EST

• A pair of Top 10 foes will square off in Knoxville on Wednesday Night. Alabama, who is ranked #1 in the AP Poll for the first time since the 2002-03 season, will travel to Thompson-Boling Arena to face #10 Tennessee. The Vols lost two games last week by 1 point, in eerily similar fashion. Rick Barnes' club lost both games (at Vanderbilt 66-65, vs Missouri 86-85), on the last play of regulation. UT's Santiago Vescovi missed free throws, at the end of both games, that would have put the icing on the cake. However, the door was left open, and both opponents hit 3's at the buzzer for the win.
  Alabama, on the other hand, has been playing as well as anyone in the country. They've won 13 of their last 14 games, including 4 straight since getting whipped at Oklahoma (93-69) in the "SEC/Big 12 Challenge". Bama's offense scores 117.4 points per 100 possessions (13th in D-1), and flaunts the third-lowest average possessions length (15.1 seconds). They're averaging 88.5 ppg during their 4-game winning streak, and are led by Freshman Forward Brandon Miller. Miller is averaging 18.8 ppg and 8.2 rebounds per game, but had his worst shooting outing of the season last Saturday at Auburn. The Tide pulled off a hard-fought 77-69 victory over their arch rivals, but know they'll need to shoot the ball much better against the Vols to be victorious Wednesday evening.

Key Match-up

Tennessee's Defense vs Alabama's Offense

• The Volunteers rank #1 in the country in "Defensive Efficiency" (0.819), and 3rd in points allowed per game (56.3 ppg). No team has ever finished the season ranked #1 in both of those categories. They are ELITE defensively, but could be without some key pieces on Wednesday due to injury. Starters Josiah Jordan-James (Ankle) and Julian Phillips (Hip), are both listed as "game-time decisions". If those two don't suit up, I'm not sure Tennessee has the offensive firepower to get into a track meet with the Crimson Tide. It's hard to believe Miller, who saw his streak of 15 straight games with a made 3-pointer come to an end last Saturday, will be ice-cold again. Even if he is off-the-mark for a second straight game, Alabama still has playmakers all over the court. Junior Guard Mark Sears averages 14.0 ppg to go along with 1.4 steals per game, and Freshman Noah Clowney (9.8 ppg , 8.0 rpg) is a nightly double-double possibility. To slow Bama down, the Vols will need one of their best defensive performances of the entire season. Not to mention, somebody is going to have to step up on the offensive end for Tennessee as well.

Prediction

• Rick Barnes' teams are always very disciplined and very-well coached. More often than not, his squads respond pretty well to adversity. They'll be hard pressed to ever face more adversity, on a basketball court, than they did in the last 7 days. The few times Alabama has struggled this season, have been on the road in hostile environments. The Tide are a relatively young bunch, and that has a tendency to come back and bite teams who face veteran-laden squads on the road. The Vol's have as much experience, top to bottom, as any team in the country. After last week's debacle, Tennessee should come out hungry with something to prove. It's gonna be Rockin' on Rocky Top this evenin, and I think Barnes' crew puts together their best defensive showing of the season so far. Vescovi gets back to the "Charity Stripe" late in this one with the game on the line, and this time... HE DELIVERS!! Sinking two HUGE free throws to help give the Volunteers a much-needed marquee win, and getting the Big Orange back on track coming down the stretch!!

My Pick: Tennessee -3

Final Score: Tennessee 74 Alabama 70

Crick's Picks

• Furman -16 @ The Citadel 7:00 PM EST

• Marquette -5.5 vs Xavier 7:00 PM EST

• Fordham -4.5 vs St. Bonaventure 7:00 PM EST

• USC Upstate +5 vs Longwood 7:00 PM EST

• Indiana State -10.5 @ UIC 8:00 PM EST

• Kentucky +3 @ Mississippi State 8:30 PM EST

• Northwestern +2.5 vs Indiana 9:00 PM EST

• Texas A&M -3.5 vs Arkansas 9:00 PM EST

Favorite "Longshot" (+400 or worse) of the Night

Only 10%(or less) of "Unit Bet" Recommended

For Example: If you normally bet 20$ per game, do not risk more than 2$ on these "Longshots"

• New Hampshire +550 @ Vermont 7:00 PM EST

Free ML Parlay (8 Picks)

Team just has to win game. No "Spread" in effect

• Bradley -550

• Cincinnati -540

• Colgate -775

• Saint Louis -275

• Binghamton -210

• SF Austin -280

• Iowa State -195

• San Diego State -390

Total Odds Boost = +721

10.00 to win 72.11

100.00 to win 721.00

Good Luck Tonight and GO BIG ORANGE!!!!

-Crickett