College basketball’s opening week continues tonight with Tennessee, Alabama and Arkansas all in action against lower-tier opponents. The slate isn’t loaded with marquee matchups, but each game carries betting angles worth watching.
Tennessee hosts Wofford after losing a wave of players to the NBA draft and the transfer portal. The Volunteers rebuilt with eight transfers and a freshman class that ranked second nationally in transfer-class rankings, but chemistry remains a question mark this early in the season. Wofford brings in nine new players of its own, though the Terriers retain more continuity among returning players. That edge could matter in the first half: take Wofford at +14.5 for the opening twenty minutes, even as Tennessee is expected to win the game comfortably.
Alabama faces Sam Houston in Tuscaloosa, where home-court advantage and a deep returning core should carry the Crimson Tide. Four key players are back, led by Aden Holloway running the offense, with Amari Allen expected to see expanded minutes after contributing last season. Sam Houston, like many lower-level programs, lost its breakout talent to the transfer portal and may struggle with depth. The pick here is Alabama -26.5.
Arkansas hosts Arkansas-Pine Bluff under coach John Calipari, whose roster again leans on high-upside freshmen. Darius Acuff Jr. has moved on to the NBA, but Billy Richmond III returns as a combo forward, Paulo Semedo anchors the middle with rim protection, and Finnish big man Miikka Murrinen adds scoring punch. Arkansas should score freely, but hitting 105 points in a season opener is a tall order if Calipari uses the game to install sets rather than simply push pace. The lean is under 104.5 on the Razorbacks’ team total.
