Rice vs Tennessee Prediction 11/17/2025 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Rice Owls and the Tennessee Volunteers meet Monday in college basketball action from the Food City Center. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Rice Owls vs. Tennessee Volunteers prediction.

Rice Owls Recap

The Rice Owls come into this game looking to build on a 71-64 win over East Texas A&M to improve to 2-2 this season. After this game, Rice will head home for a game against Tarleton.

Owls Snap Two-Game Slide

Trae Broadnax leads the Owls in scoring with 16.5 PPG along with 5 RPG and 2.5 APG while Nick Anderson has 13.5 PPG with 2.8 RPG and 2 APG. Jalen Smith has 13.3 PPG with 2.3 RPG and a team-high 3 APG to lead the Owls in assists and to cap off the group of double-digit scorers for Rice so far this season. Dallas Hobbs has 9.3 PPG with 2.5 RPG while Jimmy Oladokun Jr. has 6.3 PPG with a team-high 7 RPG to lead Rice on the glass so far this season. As a team, Rice is averaging 78 PPG on 43.9% shooting from the field, 44.4% from three and 73.6% from the foul line this season.

Tennessee Volunteers Recap

The Tennessee Volunteers come into this game looking to keep their foot on the gas after a 99-66 win over North Florida last time out to improve to 3-0 this season. After this game, Tennessee will take on Tennessee State at home.

Volunteers Looking To Stay Unbeaten

Nate Ament leads the Volunteers in scoring with 20 PPG and in rebounding with 8.7 RPG along with 3.7 APG while J.P. Estrella has 17.3 PPG with 8.7 RPG of his own. Ja’Kobi Gillespie has 16.3 PPG a team-high 5.7 APG to lead Tennessee in assists and to cap off the group of double-digit scorers for Tennessee up to this point in the year. Cade Phillips has 6.7 PPG with 5 RPG and Bishop Boswell has 5.5 PPG with 6.5 RPG as well this season. As a team, Tennessee is averaging 90 PPG on 51.3% shooting from the field, 37% from three and 70.7% from the foul line so far this season.

Rice Owls @ Tennessee Volunteers Betting Trends: November 17, 2025

Why the Tennessee Volunteers will win

• Tennessee has won each of its last 46 night games against non-Conference opponents at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center.
• Rice has lost eight of its last nine road games.
• Tennessee has won the first half in 31 of its last 32 night games against non-Conference opponents at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center.

Why the Rice Owls will win

• Rice has won the first half in four of its last five games.

Total Points Facts

• Each of Rice’s last six Monday games against non-Conference opponents have produced a total of 143+ points.
• Three of Tennessee’s last four night games at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center have produced a total of 151+ points.

Matchup/League Facts

• Tennessee ranks 1st among Division 1 teams for opponent free throw percentage this season (56.5%).
• Tennessee ranks 1st among Division 1 teams for rebound percentage this season (65.4%).
• Rice ranks T11th among Division 1 teams for three-point percentage this season (44.4%).
• Rice ranks T23rd among Division 1 teams for opponent field goal attempts per game this season (53.0).

Rice Owls vs. Tennessee Volunteers Prediction

I’m on Rice and the points here. I just think that this is a case of too many points as Rice is a capable team with experience and proven scorers that can handle themselves against some big teams, even Tennessee. The Vols can still win comfortably here, but we’ve seen Tennessee win big and not cover big spreads twice already this season and I think Rice can keep this one respectable. Give me Rice and the points here.

Chris Ruffolo's Pick: Rice +27.5