Dark times are ahead for the Tennessee Volunteers. They've lost Robert Hubbs III for at least a week or two after he had to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery right at the end of November. UT hasn't been back on the court since then, but it'll be back in action on Saturday on the road at the Butler Bulldogs.
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HOW THE TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
It's really all about finding an answer for scoring for the Vols. Hubbs averages 15.3 points per game, and he's one of the four men who have any ability to score.
It's tough to imagine Kevin Punter, Armani Moore and Devon Baulkman really doing any more than they've already done this year. Punter, in particular, is averaging 22.3 points per game. Moore and Baulkman are good for another 25.9 points per game.
One would like to think it'll take getting into the 70s in this one to win and cover, but we just don't know if the Vols have the ability to get there. If they find the answers, they'll cover. If not, they'll lose by double digits.
HOW THE BUTLER BULLDOGS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
If we're Butler, all we're trying to do in this game is run. This team is averaging 91.4 points per game, albeit against a relatively easy schedule. Getting into the 90s won't happen in this one, but anything in the low-80s or better is probably good enough.
The concern is that the Bulldogs’ offense hasn't been nearly as efficient against top flight teams. Cincinnati, Miami and Temple have all held the Bulldogs in the 70s this year, whereas every other team on the docket has surrendered at least 80 - including the 144 against the Citadel!
Few teams move the ball as well as Butler does. In its eight games played thus far, this veteran crew is averaging 16.5 assists per game. Roosevelt Jones and Tyler Lewis are the big contributors, but knowing that Andrew Chrabascz has tremendous hands is going to factor in here, too.
If the Volunteers get in any foul trouble whatsoever, they're as good as dead. Butler is the type of team which can force you into silly fouls with mental mistakes, and that's going to be the goal on Saturday.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
This just isn't a friendly matchup for the Volunteers. Try as he might, Rick Barnes isn't going to be able to slow down Kellen Dunham, Kelan Martin, Chrabascz, Jones, Tyler Wideman and Tyler Lewis, all of which are averaging at least nine points per game.
If all of these Butler players come even within 10 percent of their scoring averages, there just won't be enough offensive firepower here for Tennessee unless someone steps up who is averaging less than four points per game and shines.
A Butler/over parlay seems to be the best bet to us, something that has cashed four times already in eight games this NCAAB season.
Butler 85, Tennessee 68
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