POINT SPREAD: Kentucky is an Underdog at Tennessee

For the first time in the Mark Pope era, the Kentucky basketball team has lost consecutive games. In order to stop the skid before it becomes a full-blown losing streak, the Wildcats must win in an unforgiving environment on the road as underdogs.

Tennessee opens as an 8.5-point favorite over Kentucky for Tuesday night’s game in Knoxville. The total is 148.5, giving us a projected final score of 78.5-70. You can get the Cats at +300 on the moneyline.

The Wildcats only have a 21% chance to pull off the upset, according to KenPom, who projects a final score of 77-68. Bart Torvik forecasts a 76-68 win for the Vols.

Those numbers aren’t great, but what if I told you that this is the spot where Kentucky is at its best? Adam Luckett did some digging and Kentucky has won back-to-back games in Knoxville as an 8-point underdog. The Wildcats have been underdogs three times in Mark Pope’s first season. They won all three of those games outright.

Tennessee enters this game off a two-point loss at No. 1 Auburn. It was their second loss in three games. Their only three losses of the year are in SEC play.

The Vols have a 13-7 record Against the Spread (ATS). Tennessee has not lost at home, and they are 4-0 ATS against power conference foes at the Food City Center.

Tennessee has KenPom’s top-ranked defense. Point guard Zakai Zeigler holds the school record for steals and currently leads the SEC in assists with 7.5 per game. Over the last three seasons, the veteran has a 3-4 record against the Wildcats. Kentucky leads the overall series 161-78, but Rick Barnes is 11-10 in the rivalry, including a 7-1 mark when the Cats are ranked in the Top 10 of the AP Poll.

Kentucky vs. Tennessee: How to Watch, Listen

• Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
• Television: ESPN (Karl Ravech, Jimmy Dykes, Molly McGrath)
• Home Radio: UK Sports Network – 630 WLAP, iHeart Radio (Tom Leach, Goose Givens)
• Online Radio: iHeart
• Satellite Radio: Sirius 160 or 191
• Live Stats: StatBroadcast

You can also follow the game via our new LIVE BLOG on the website, which will begin an hour before tip-off, or join the conversation on KSBoard.

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