Tennessee Volunteers vs Vanderbilt Commodores Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 02/21/2026

Game Time: 2:00 pm ET, Saturday, February 21, 2026

Venue:  Memorial Gymnasium, Nashville, TN

Where to Watch:  ESPN

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Tennessee +2.5, Vanderbilt -2.5; Over/Under:  149.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Tennessee +2.5, Vanderbilt -2.5; Over/Under:  149.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Tennessee +2.5, Vanderbilt -2.5; Over/Under:  149.5 points

Tennessee Volunteers:  19-7 (9-4) (4th place, SEC)

Vanderbilt Commodores:  21-5 (8-5) (7th place, SEC)

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Tennessee Volunteers:  4-1  last 5

Vanderbilt Commodores:  3-2  last 5

Tennessee is entering this game with a 19-7 record overall, a 9-4 record in conference games, and they are 3-4 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a win against the Oklahoma Sooners in their last game. Nate Ament led the team in points in that game with 29 while Felix Okpara was next on the team with 18. Ja'Kobi Gillespie led the team in assists with 8 in that game while Jalen Carey and Felix Okpara each led the team in rebounds with 7. They were 52.4% from the field, 27.8% from 3-point range, and 72% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 81.3 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 69.2 PPG against them. Tennessee has an ATS record of 11-14-1 this season and their O/U record is 15-11.

Vanderbilt is entering this game with a 21-5 record overall, an 8-5 conference record, and they are 12-2 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a loss against the Missouri Tigers in their last game. Tyler Tanner led the team in points in that game with 27 while Devin McGlockton was next on the team with 13. Tyler Tanner led the team in assists with 5 in that game while Devin McGlockton led the team in rebounds with 7. They were 43.1% from the field, 40% from 3-point range, and 77.8% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 88.1 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 73.9 PPG against them. Vanderbilt has an ATS record of 14-12 this season and their O/U record is 12-14.

The current betting odds have Vanderbilt listed as a 2.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Vanderbilt has looked good in their games this season with their 21-5 record overall and their 8-5 conference record which has them in the top half of the SEC. They have looked great on their home court too with their 12-2 home record this season. Meanwhile, Tennessee has looked good in their games this season with their 19-7 record overall and their 9-4 conference record which has them in the top half of the SEC. They haven't been a great road team though with their 3-4 road record this year. Tennessee has looked good lately as they are 4-1 in their last 5 games and off a win over Oklahoma in their last one, but they aren't ranked in the top 25 and they aren't the talented team they have been over the last few years. The SEC hasn't been as strong this season as it was last season, but Tennessee has also been beating up on a lot of bad opponents lately. They have struggled with most of the top teams they have faced, and they haven't looked good in road games either. Vanderbilt hasn't been at their best lately as they are 3-2 in their last 5 games and coming off a loss to Missouri in their last one, but Mizzou has been a tough place to play this year and they don't have a bad team either. Vandy will be looking to bounce back after that bad loss and they have looked like a completely different team in their home games this season. Vanderbilt is going to bring their best effort for their rival here and they are still the more talented team this season. The best way to place a bet here is on Vanderbilt to cover the spread in this game. 

Tennessee Vanderbilt Prediction:  Our NCAAB Pick for Saturday, February 21, 2026 (2:00 pm ET start time) is Vanderbilt 80 Tennessee 74.

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Tennessee Volunteers: 5-10 ATS versus good shooting teams - making 45% of their shots or more. 3-7 ATS versus excellent teams - shooting 45% or more with a defense of 42% or less. 5-10 ATS versus very good teams - outscoring their opponents by 8+ points/game. 24-15 UNDER after 3 or more consecutive wins.

Vanderbilt Commodores: 7-1 ATS versus good passing teams, averaging 16 assists/game or more. 7-4 ATS versus good defensive teams - shooting pct defense of 42% or less. 6-3 ATS versus excellent teams - shooting 45% or more with a defense of 42% or less. 29-19 UNDER in all home games.

Tennessee Volunteers:  J. Estrella (F) Questionable - Undisclosed. C. Phillips (F) Out - Shoulder.

Vanderbilt Commodores:  D. Miles (G) Questionable - Knee. F. Collins (G) Questionable - Knee. G. Kimble (G) Out - Knee.

"I'm upset with him. We tell those guys we don't care if it's a little sore. I think he had been sore and he didn't tell anybody. He wants to play so badly. It was probably there before he let (director of men's basketball sports medicine Chad Newman) know. You'd have to ask him, but I think it was sore before he let us know it.” - Rick Barnes on the injury to J.P. Estrella.

"It was a game where the highs were high, and the lows were low. We actually started the game very well. We executed. We got stops, and then the offense got really tough for us. Then, we let the offense get in the way of our defense there.” - Mark Byington after his team’s loss against Mizzou in their last game. 

N. Ament 

B. Boswell 

D. Brown 

J. Gillespie 

F. Okpara

D. McGlockton 

D. Miles 

T. Nickel 

A. Okereke 

T. Tanner

PPG: Nate Ament (18.2)

APG: Ja'Kobi Gillespie (5.5)

Reb/G: Nate Ament (6.4)

PPG: Tyler Tanner (18.6)

APG: Tyler Tanner (5.3)

Reb/G: Devin McGlockton (6.9)

Coaches:

Tennessee Volunteers: Rick Barnes (11th season)

Vanderbilt Commodores: Mark Byington (2nd season)