Slipping down the national rankings following a 2-game losing streak, Alabama regrouped with a pair of impressive road wins to regain their standing in the rugged SEC. The Tide returns home looking to end a 4-game losing skid to Tennessee. Since starting the season with 7 straight wins the Vols are just 5-6 since.
Tennessee at Alabama Preview
The first of two meetings in a month between the Tennessee Volunteers and Alabama Crimson Tide takes place on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, AL. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET with ESPN offering television coverage.
Public Betting Odds Factors
- Reality has set in for Tennessee after a blistering start to the season that saw them go 7-0, including a win over then-No. 3 Houston. However, since that upset win the Vols are just 5-6 and 3-8 against the college basketball spread.
- The Vols are searching for their first true road win of the season going 0-3 SU and ATS. And they haven’t been competitive in their 2 SEC road tilts. The lost by 24 points at Florida a few weeks ago and lost 86-75 at Arkansas as a 1.5-point favorite in early January.
- Tennessee looks to rebound from a tough loss in its last game. The Vols led by as many as 17 points in the first half and were up double digits in the second half before falling 80-78 at home to Kentucky.
- The Vols have alternated wins and losses over their past 6 games after a 3-game winning streak appeared to balance them out.
- Ja’Kobi Gillespie leads the Vols and is 5th in the SEC averaging 18.6 points per game. He scored 24 points against Kentucky, his 8th game this season of at least 20 points.
- Tennessee has the SEC’s top scoring defense allowing 68.6 points per game and will face the 2nd highest scoring offense in Alabama. The Tide has reached 100 points 5 times and has scored at least 83 points in its last 8 games going OVER the total 5 times in that span.
- Alabama is the 3rd highest scoring team in the country averaging 93.1 points with 5 players averaging in double figures led by Labaron Philon Jr. at 22.0. Aden Holloway averages 17.7 points giving the Tide a lethal backcourt.
Tennessee at Alabama Predictions
- The ideal scenario for Alabama has them getting into a track meet with their opponent. The Tide pushes the pace and has the depth to do so. They’ve been able to run with the better teams in the country as well, scoring at least 80 points against 5 ranked opponents and winning 3 of them.
- Tennessee has been up and down recently getting blown out against Florida 3 games ago and responding with an overtime win against Texas A&M. They squandered a lead in a deflating home loss to Kentucky last time out when favored by 5.5-points on the college basketball betting line.
Tennessee at Alabama Betting Tips
Tennessee has gone 3 straight games without a payout and is 1-4 ATS in January. The Vols are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games and just 6-12 ATS for the season.
The Vols have cashed the OVER in all 5 conference games and 6 straight overall. For the season 12 of their 18 games have played OVER the total.
Alabama is 6-2 SU at home this season but just 3-5 ATS. The Tide failed to cover against Oklahoma and is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games.
Tennessee at Alabama Head to Head and Key Stats
- Tennessee has won the last 4 head to head matchups, including once in Tuscaloosa, 81-74, during the 2023-24 season. The Vols are 3-1 ATS in that span.
- Only once in the last 10 meetings has the winning team scored more than 81 points. That happened 2 seasons ago in the Vols 91-71 triumph, which was the only time in the last 5 meetings the teams cashed the OVER.
- The teams have split the last 4 games in Alabama with 3 of those games going UNDER the closing total.
