ESPN Analytics predicts outcome of Alabama-Tennessee showdown in Knoxville
Published:
ESPN Analytics believes Tennessee has a great chance to beat Alabama twice this season, as the ranked SEC teams get set to collide on Saturday night in Knoxville.
The conference heavyweights already have a lot of history this season, with the Volunteers barging into Tuscaloosa a little over a month ago and spoiling the high-profile return of Charles Bediako with a 79-73 victory in a primetime showcase. Bediako was trying to make yet another return on Saturday night in the rematch with the Vols, but his injunction was denied on Friday by the Alabama Supreme Court, meaning the Crimson Tide won’t be getting the controversial center back for the crucial, late-season matchup that will tip off at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN.
However, it appears that Alabama will have the services of leading scorer Labaron Philon on Saturday night. Philon, who also leads the Crimson Tide in assists and steals, is likely to return for Bama after sitting out Wednesday night’s victory over Mississippi State. Tide head coach Nate Oats told reporters on Friday that he hoped trainer Clarke Holter would clear Philon, despite the standout guard being limited in practice on Friday.
Philon has dealt with multiple injuries this season and his return on Saturday would be huge for No. 17 Alabama (21-7), as the teams battle for positioning near the top of the SEC standings. Florida has a firm grip on first place with a little over a week to go in the regular season, but Bama is in a 2nd-place tie with Arkansas at 11-4, 2 games behind the Gators.
Meanwhile, No. 22 Tennessee (20-8) is right behind at 10-5, and another victory over the Tide not only would tie the teams, it would give the Volunteers a season sweep of Bama that could be crucial when seedings are determined for the upcoming SEC Tournament. ESPN’s BPI believes Tennessee could be poised to get that season sweep, giving the Vols a 66.8% chance to defend home court and take down the Tide again.
The Volunteers will also be trying to bounce back from Tuesday night’s stinging loss at Mizzou, so there will be subplots galore brewing when the Vols and Tide tip things off on national TV in this critical matchup on the last day of February.
Here is Kalshi’s breakdown of Saturday night’s game in Knoxville between ranked SEC teams:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
