Tennessee vs Alabama live score updates, highlights, how to watch SEC basketball game

Posted by author March 1, 2025 Basketball

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As the 2024-25 men’s college basketball season winds down, the games are becoming increasingly crucial for conference tournament and NCAA Tournament bracket seeding.

Saturday’s matchup between No. 5 Tennessee (23-5, 10-5) and No. 6 Alabama (23-5, 12-3) is no exception, as both teams have just three games remaining in their regular seasons. The Crimson Tide is second in the SEC standings, while the Vols are tied for fourth with Missouri.

Both teams are jockeying for a potential double-bye in the SEC Tournament, and a possible No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament could also be on the line. For Alabama, this will mark the fifth of seven straight games against ranked opponents to close the season. The Crimson Tide has treaded water with a 2-2 mark in the first four games, but is coming off back-to-back dominant wins over No. 17 Kentucky (96-83) and No. 24 Mississippi State (111-73).

Meanwhile, the Vols have won three in a row and six of their last seven games following a two-game losing streak at the end of January. Tennessee defeated LSU 66-59 on Saturday behind a 17-point performance from Zakai Zeigler.

Entering play on Tuesday, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi had Alabama as the No. 1 seed in the Midwest bracket and Tennessee as the No. 2 seed in the East bracket. Auburn and Florida joined the Crimson Tide as projected No. 1 seeds from the SEC.

Follow along here for live updates, highlights and analysis of Saturday’s SEC matchup between Tennessee vs. Alabama basketball game:

Watch Tennessee basketball vs. Alabama live with Fubo (free trial)

Tennessee vs Alabama basketball score updates

This section will be updated at tip-off

TEAMS	1H	2H	F
Alabama	―	―	―
Tennessee	―	―	―

Chaz Lanier got the Vols off to a quick 7-2 lead with two jumpers and a 3-pointer. However, Tennessee already has three turnovers, which have led to five points off turnovers for Alabama. The Crimson Tide is on a 7-0 run at the under-16 media timeout.

Zakai Zeigler already has two quick fouls and is off to the bench early.

With the Texas Tech-Kansas game running along, tip off for Tennessee-Alabama will be at 4:05 p.m. ET on the ESPN app. The game will be shown on ESPN at the conclusion of the Red Raiders-Jayhawks game

Tennessee enters Saturday’s game sitting fourth in the SEC standings, tied with Missouri. Alabama is second, trailing Auburn by two games and ahead of Florida by one game. The top four teams earn a double bye in the tournament.

Here’s a look at the ACC standings entering Saturday:

Games back in parentheses

1. Auburn (—)
2. Alabama (2 GB)
3. Florida (3 GB)
T-4. Tennessee (4 GB)
T-4. Missouri (4 GB)
6. Texas A&M (5 GB)
T-7. Kentucky (6 GB)
T-7. Ole Miss (6 GB)
T9. Mississippi State (7 GB)
T-9. Vanderbilt (7 GB)
11. Arkansas (8 GB)
T-12. Georgia (9 GB)
T-12. Texas (9 GB)
14. Oklahoma (10 GB)
15. LSU (11 GB)
⁠16. South Carolina (13 GB)

Here are the starters for both the Vols and the Crimson Tide:

Tennessee:

G Chaz Lanier
G Zakai Zeigler
G Jahmai Mashack
F Igor Milicic Jr.
F Felix Okpara

Alabama:

G Labaron Philon
G Mark Sears
G Chris Youngblood
F Nelson Grant
C Clifford Omoruyi

All the analysts from ESPN’s “College GameDay” picked Tennessee to earn the victory over Alabama in today’s SEC matchup. The Crimson Tide will look to prove Andraya Carter, Jay Williams and Seth Greenberg wrong.

What channel is Tennessee vs Alabama basketball on today?

ESPN will televise Saturday’s SEC basketball matchup between Tennessee and Alabama in Knoxville, Tennessee. Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app (with a TV login), ESPN+, ESPN’s subscription streaming platform, Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Tennessee vs Alabama basketball time today

Date: Saturday, March 1
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Thompson–Boling Arena (Knoxville, Tenn.)

Tennessee and Alabama will play on Saturday, March 1, at 3 p.m. ET at the Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Tennessee basketball vs Alabama history

Series record: Alabama leads 81-73
Tennessee’s last win: 2024 (81-74)
Alabama’s last win: 2022 (73-68)

According to Alabama’s record book, the Crimson Tide leads the all-time series against the Vols 81-73. Tennessee has won the last three matchups, including an 81-74 victory in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, last year.

Tennessee vs Alabama state predictions, picks

Adam Sparks, Knox News:

Tennessee 81, Alabama 78: Tennessee has found a way to beat Alabama, winning three straight in the series. Granted, this Tide team could bend UT’s defense to its breaking point. But with a potential No. 1 seed on the line and a home crowd behind the Vols, they’ll outlast Alabama’s early barrage and rally for a tight win.

Emilee Smarr, Tuscaloosa News:

Alabama 81, Tennessee 75: Oats thought the Crimson Tide left more to be desired in the second-half against Mississippi State, but the Alabama (23-5, 12-3 SEC) team that showed up in the first 20 minutes can take down any team, including Tennessee (23-5, 10-5 SEC).

Tennessee vs Alabama betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Saturday, March 1.

Moneyline: Tennessee (-185) | Alabama (+150)
Spread: Tennessee (-4.5)
Over/under: 158.5

Alabama basketball schedule 2025

Here’s a look at Alabama’s last five results. To view the Crimson Tide’s full 2024-25 schedule, click here.

Tuesday, Feb. 11: No. 1 Alabama 103, Texas 80
Saturday, Feb. 15: No. 2 Auburn 94, No. 1 Alabama 85
Wednesday, Feb. 19: No. 16 Missouri 110, No. 4 Alabama 98
Saturday, Feb. 22: No. 4 Alabama 96, No. 21 Kentucky 83
Tuesday, Feb. 25: No. 4 Alabama 111, Mississippi State 73

Tennessee basketball schedule 2024-25

Here’s a look at Tennessee’s last five results. To view the Vols’ last full 2024-25 schedule, click here.

Saturday, Feb. 8: No. 4 Tennessee 70, Oklahoma 52
Tuesday, Feb. 11: No. 18 Kentucky 75, No. 4 Tennessee 64
Saturday, Feb. 15: No. 4 Tennessee 81, Vanderbilt 76
Saturday, Feb. 22: No. 6 Tennessee 77, No. 7 Texas A&M 69
Tuesday, Feb. 25: No. 5 Tennessee 65, LSU 59

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