The final game of Saturday’s Big 12/SEC Challenge features 15th-ranked Kansas going against No. 18 Tennessee in college basketball action. Both were among preseason favorites to capture their respective conference.

The Jayhawks are currently in the midst of their first three-game losing streak since 2013. They will face TCU on Thursday night before playing at Tennessee on Saturday. Can the Jayhawks break out of their funk?

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Game: Kansas Jayhawks (10-5, 6-8 ATS) at Tennessee Volunteers (11-3, 8-6 ATS)

When: 6:00 PM ET, Saturday, January 30, 2021

Where: Thompson-Boling Arena, Knoxville, Tennessee

Current Line: OFF Total: OFF

TV Coverage: ESPN

It will be difficult for the Jayhawks no matter what, but playing on the road adds to a list of issues. Kansas is just 2-3 on the road this season. The Jayhawks covered in three of those five games, but recently they have not been good to spread bettors.

Kansas is 1-3 ATS in its last four games. As mentioned, the three-game losing streak is something that doesn’t happen too often for the Jayhawks. They lost to No. 2 Baylor, No. 24 Oklahoma, and to a very good 10-4 Oklahoma State.

Tennessee is in somewhat of a similar situation. Before beating Mississippi State on Tuesday night, the Vols had lost two straight. One was to No. 19 Missouri. The other was a 75-49 blowout defeat at the hands of Florida. 

The Volunteers do well at home. They are 8-2 at home on the season, but they have had trouble covering spreads. They are only 2-4 ATS in their last six games and they failed to cover in each of their last two games as -8 and -8.5-point favorites.

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With neither team really standing out against the spread, bettors should care less about Kansas breaking out of its funk and pay more attention to the total. In the Jayhawks’ last seven games, the total was set at 138 or higher. The Over hit in five of them and one game was a push. 

Kansas averages over 75 points per game. Tennessee checks in at 72.7. The Vols are one of the better defensive teams in the SEC and the nation holding opponents to 59.3 points per game.

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The Jayhawks have five players that average in double figures led by guard Ochai Agboji who scores 14.5 points per game. Kansas will push the pace because that’s what they do. Head coach Bill Self needs to see his team use tempo and score. The Jayhawks have only hit 70 points once in their past four games. On Saturday, they will erupt against a very good Tennessee defense.

Despite the scoring drought, the Over has hit in five of Kansas’ last seven games overall. Two of Tennessee’s last three games have seen the Over pay out even though the Vols typically hold opponents under 60 points. 

Play the Over all the way up to 141.5 as both teams should score in the low 70s in this Big 12/SEC shootout.

NCAAB Free Pick: OVER up to 141.5

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