Posted at 11:00 AM EST. Odds subject to change.

Pinnacle -7½ -111 BET365 -7½ -110 Sportsinteraction -7½ -110 888Sport -7½ -110

Thompson-Boling Arena, Knoxville, TN

Tennessee -7½ over Kentucky

Streaming: CBS

4:00 PM EST. This line jumps off the board today, as the Wildcats of Kentucky, who are true college hoops royalty, are taking back a significant price as the #15 ranked team in the nation. Does it not look like the oddsmakers are begging for action on Kentucky by posting a number like this? Not only are the Wildcats taking back a significant pile of points in this Southeastern Conference (SEC) regular-season finale, they are taking back those points against a team that the market perceives as “nothing to play for,” as Tennessee wrapped up the SEC regular-season title with its 66-59 win at South Carolina on Wednesday night.

Motivation is a difficult variable to factor, as what motivates teams and individuals can change on a whim. For the Volunteers, their first SEC title since 2008 looks nice on paper, but really, is that what motivates a team that has national championship aspirations? The Vols are #4 in the nation heading into this weekend, and they are on the bubble for one of the four #1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament, which is something that matters in that locker room, with star forward Dalton Knecht saying, "We got the job done, but at the same time, the job's not done.”

Finally, this is the final regular-season game for the Tennessee seniors, including fifth-year guard Josiah-Jordan James, who said all the right things when asked if it was going to be difficult for the Vols to refocus after clinching the #1 seed in the SEC Tournament next week, "It's definitely not because it's Kentucky. That rivalry, they don't like us, we don't like them. So I'm glad that it's them coming off an SEC regular-season championship because I know everybody will be locked in. And I know we'll be ready to go.” The Vols do not sound like a team that is content with its current standing; it sounds like a team that is ready to silence the doubters by punching the market and media darling Wildcats right in the mouth. Swallow the points.

Sherwood

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