No. 1 Tennessee Basketball vs. Norfolk State: How To Watch, Betting Odds, Prediction

Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics

Tennessee basketball is back in action on Tuesday afternoon as they prepare to face Norfolk State in its final tuneup before SEC play begins on Saturday.

The Vols enter the matchup unbeaten and the top ranked team in the country while Norfolk State is riding a three-game winning streak entering the matchup.

Here’s everything to know about the New Years Eve matchup in Knoxville.

More From RTI: Tennessee Guard Zakai Zeigler Earns Big Weekly Honor to End 2024

How To Watch — No. 1 Tennessee (12-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. Norfolk State (9-6, 0-0 MEAC)

  • Start Time: 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT
  • Location: Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center
  • Stream: SEC Network+. PxP: Will Boling. CC: Steve Hame
  • Online Streaming: Watch ESPN
  • Radio (Knoxville): The Vol Network/The Vol Network App

Betting Lines

FanDuel Sportsbook

  • Tennessee -30.5 Norfolk State
  • Over/under 140

KenPom

  • Tennessee -24 Norfolk State
  • Over/under: 138

Probable Starters

Tennessee (via UT Game Notes):

Norfolk State (via last game):

Team Statistics (via KenPom)

Tennessee:

Norfolk State:

Individual Stat Leaders

Tennessee:

Points: Chaz Lanier — 19.3 PPG, 45.1 FG%, 47.3 3PT%

Rebounds: Igor Milicic — 8.1 RPG, 6.1 DRPG, 2 ORPG

Assists: Zakai Zeigler — 8.3 APG, 3.2 TOPG, 33.2 MPG

Norfolk State:

Points: Brian Moore Jr — 19.4 PPG, 57.2 FG%, 51.7 3PT%

Rebounds: Jalen Myers — 5.2 RPG, 3.9 DRPG, 1.3 ORPG

Assists: Christian Ings — 3.7 APG, 2.3 TOPG, 27.9 MPG

Last Five Games

Tennessee:

  • 82-64 win versus MTSU
  • 84-36 win versus Western Carolina
  • 66-64 win at Illinois
  • 75-62 win against Miami (New York City)
  • 96-70 win versus Syracuse

Norfolk State:

  • 77-74 win at High Point
  • 76-70 win against Grambling (Connecticut)
  • 71-42 win against Alabama State (Connecticut)
  • 71-62 loss at Northern Kentucky
  • 94-69 loss at Baylor

Prediction

Norfolk State is a solid low major team but I expect Tennessee to be locked in coming out of the Christmas break.

The Spartans have been a bad rebounding team this season and Tennessee should be able to dominate the matchup down low in this game. One thing worth noting is that both teams play at a slower pace which could lead to this being a lower scoring game.

Tennessee wins this one in comfortable fashion and enters SEC play with an undefeated record.

Tennessee 83, Norfolk State 55

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