The Tennessee Volunteers are looking to build on their recent form, having gone 2-1 in their last three games, including a win over a top-25 opponent, with their 6-4 conference record keeping them in the hunt for a top-4 seed in the NCAA Tournament, boasting a 4-7 record in Quad 1 games. Meanwhile, the Louisiana State Tigers are fighting to stay on the NCAA Tournament bubble, with their 2-9 conference record and 1-7 Quad 1 record putting them in a tough spot, but their 8-0 record in Quad 4 games has helped keep their NET ranking at 63. This matchup is crucial for both teams, as a win for Tennessee would solidify their position as a top-4 seed, while a win for LSU would significantly boost their tournament resume, particularly with this game being a Quad 1 opportunity for the Tigers.
Tennessee Volunteers Have Held Opponents to 60 or Fewer Points 10 Times This Season
The game is scheduled to take place on February 14, 2026, at 7:00 PM ET, at the Food City Center, and will be broadcast on ESPN. Fans can also stream the game online through the ESPN app.
The Louisiana State Tigers have had an up-and-down season, with their 14-10 overall record and 2-9 conference record reflecting their struggles in the SEC. However, they have shown flashes of brilliance, with their 3-2 record in Quad 3 games and 8-0 record in Quad 4 games demonstrating their ability to dominate weaker opponents. With a NET ranking of 63, the Tigers are currently on the bubble, but a strong performance in this game could go a long way in boosting their tournament chances. Over their last three games, LSU has gone 1-2, with their most recent win coming against a non-conference opponent, where they scored 82 points, shooting 45.5% from the field.
The Tennessee Volunteers have been one of the top teams in the SEC this season, with their 16-7 overall record and 6-4 conference record putting them in the hunt for a top-4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Their strong defense has been a major factor in their success, with their 22nd NET ranking and 4-7 record in Quad 1 games demonstrating their ability to compete with the best teams in the country. Over their last three games, Tennessee has gone 2-1, with their most recent win coming against a conference opponent, where they held them to just 58 points, shooting 38.5% from the field. The Volunteers' 3-0 record in Quad 2 games has also been impressive, with their average margin of victory in these games being 12.3 points.
CHD Scout Prediction
LSU
69
Tennessee
85
The key to this matchup will be the battle between Tennessee's strong defense and LSU's offense, which has been averaging 75.6 points per game over their last five games. The Volunteers' defense has been stout, allowing just 64.2 points per game, and their 45.1% field goal percentage defense has been one of the best in the country. LSU's offense, on the other hand, has been led by their 35.5% three-point shooting, which will be put to the test against Tennessee's 32.1% three-point defense. The pace of the game will also be important, as Tennessee's average possession length of 17.4 seconds want to slow down LSU's fast-paced offense, which has an average possession length of 15.6 seconds.
For Tennessee, guard Santiago Vescovi has been on fire, averaging 18.3 points per game over his last five games, including a 25-point performance in their most recent win. Forward Uros Plavsic has also been impressive, averaging 12.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game over the same span. For LSU, guard Cam Hayes has been the team's leading scorer, averaging 15.6 points per game, while forward Derek Fountain has been dominant on the glass, averaging 8.3 rebounds per game. Over their last three games, Hayes has scored 20 or more points twice, including a 28-point performance in their most recent loss.
The CHD Scout prediction has Tennessee winning this game by a margin of 15.2 points, with a win probability of 89.4%. This prediction is based on the Volunteers' strong defense and their ability to slow down LSU's offense, as well as their significant advantage in NET ranking and quad record. With Tennessee's average margin of victory in Quad 2 games being 12.3 points, it's likely that they will be able to cover the spread and come out on top.
A win for Tennessee would solidify their position as a top-4 seed in the NCAA Tournament, while a loss would drop them to 6-5 in conference play and put them in a tougher spot. For LSU, a win would be a huge boost to their tournament resume, particularly with this game being a Quad 1 opportunity, and would move them to 3-9 in conference play. A loss, on the other hand, would drop them to 2-10 in conference play and make it even tougher for them to make the tournament, with their NET ranking likely to drop below 65.