Louisville Cardinals vs Tennessee Volunteers Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 12/16/2025

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Venue:  Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center, Knoxville, TN

Where to Watch:  ESPN

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Louisville -1.5, Tennessee +1.5; Over/Under:  157.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Louisville -1.5, Tennessee +1.5; Over/Under:  157.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Louisville -1.5, Tennessee +1.5; Over/Under:  157.5 points

Louisville Cardinals:  9-1 (0-0) (3rd place, ACC)

Tennessee Volunteers:  7-3 (0-0) (11th place, SEC)

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Louisville Cardinals:  4-1  last 5

Tennessee Volunteers:  2-3  last 5

Louisville is entering this game with a 9-1 record overall, a 0-0 record in conference games, and they are 0-1 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a win against the Memphis Tigers in their last game. Ryan Conwell led the team in points in that game with 17 while Mikel Brown Jr. was next on the team with 16. Isaac McKneely and Khani Rooths each led the team in assists with 4 in that game while Khani Rooths led the team in rebounds with 8. They were 55.6% from the field, 51.4% from 3-point range, and 84% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 94.3 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 68.1 PPG against them. Louisville has an ATS record of 7-3 this season and their O/U record is 6-4.

Tennessee is entering this game with a 7-3 record overall, a 0-0 conference record, and they are 5-0 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a loss against the Illinois Fighting Illini in their last game. Ja'Kobi Gillespie led the team in points in that game with 15 while Nate Ament was next on the team with 9. Ja'Kobi Gillespie led the team in assists with 5 in that game while Bishop Boswell and Jalen Carey each led the team in rebounds with 7. They were 36.9% from the field, 30% from 3-point range, and 44.4% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 80.9 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 66 PPG against them. Tennessee has an ATS record of 3-7 this season and their O/U record is 6-4.

The current betting odds have Tennessee listed as a 1.5 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Tennessee has looked good in their games this season with their 7-3 record overall, but that record has them lower in the SEC at the moment. They have looked great on their home court though with their 5-0 home record this year. Meanwhile, Louisville has looked great in their games this season with their 9-1 record overall which has them right near the top of the ACC. They haven't been a good road team though with their 0-1 road record this year. They have only played 1 road game so far, but it was a loss against Arkansas who is a solid ranked team, but they definitely aren't an elite team. Tennessee has looked terrible lately with 3 losses in a row now, but they are off a loss to Illinois in their last one and they haven't had an easy schedule during this slump. They have been playing against some tough opponents in their last 5 games, going 2-3 in those, but they have also had a tough schedule all season and that is going to help them in these kinds of games. Tennessee hasn't looked good lately, but they have looked like a different team on their home court and they still have a great defense too. They have been an elite team over the last few years under Barnes and they are going to bring their best effort at home to stop the bleeding and get a much needed win. The best way to place a bet here is on Tennessee to cover the spread in this game. 

Louisville Tennessee Prediction:  Our NCAAB Pick for Tuesday, December 16, 2025 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Tennessee 72 Louisville 67.

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Louisville Cardinals: 6-3 ATS as a road favorite or pick. 25-17 ATS after 1 or more consecutive wins. 7-4 ATS in a road game where the total is 150 to 159.5. 27-18 UNDER as a favorite. 8-4 UNDER when the line is +3 to -3.

Tennessee Volunteers: 6-11 ATS after 1 or more consecutive losses. 14-20 ATS versus excellent teams - shooting 45% or more with a defense of 42% or less. 4-9 ATS in December games. 5-2 UNDER against ACC opponents. 15-7 UNDER versus good passing teams, averaging 16 assists/game or more.

Louisville Cardinals:  None.

Tennessee Volunteers:  C. Phillips (F) Out - Shoulder.

"We need you. Get out of your comfort zone because we're getting out of ours because we're playing a really good team. Schedule Memphis, schedule Cincinnati, schedule the Lakers. Done. Where you at?” - Pat Kelsey on the fans after his team’s win against Memphis in their last game. 

“He has earned it. Just that’s it. He simply − with his consistency − he earned it. We are going to base everything we do based on everyday practice habits and consistency because that is what we haven’t had. Everybody has shown glimpses of this or that. We want to see consistency.” - Rick Barnes on DeWayne Brown getting the start against Louisville.

M. Brown 

R. Conwell 

S. Fru 

J. Hadley 

I. McKneely

N. Ament 

B. Boswell 

J. Gillespie 

F. Okpara 

C. Phillips

PPG: Ryan Conwell (19.4)

APG: Mikel Brown Jr. (5.1)

Reb/G: Sananda Fru (6.2)

PPG: Ja'Kobi Gillespie (17.3)

APG: Ja'Kobi Gillespie (5.4)

Reb/G: Nate Ament (7.1)

Coaches:

Louisville Cardinals: Pat Kelsey (2nd season)

Tennessee Volunteers: Rick Barnes (11th season)