GameDay Predictions: Tennessee Basketball vs. Houston

"Houston has nearly dropped both of their Power Five matchups this season including yesterday against Syracuse, but this is still a championship level roster that is bringing some young players along at the same time. This team has a healthy mix of steady veterans and blue-chip young talent, all fitting into Kelvin Sampson’s hard-nosed identity, which makes them a tough matchup for anyone and able to pull out a win in any close game. Houston should be one of the few teams that could match Nate Ament’s length and give him some problems while having top-notch veteran play on the rest of the team, so with that being said, I’ll pick Houston to pull out another close win."

Dale Dowden: Houston 82, Tennessee 76

"This may be the first real test for Tennessee, and it is a good one. The Vols will have a good indication at the conclusion of this contest on where they stand as a current team and program as the season is rolling forward."

Caleb Sisk: Houston 68, Tennessee 74

"It is no secret that the Vols have seen some struggles this season, but in that same breath they are getting better every game. Houston played a tough Syracuse team that took them to overtime, and they now have to turn around and play a Tennessee team that ultimately ran through Rutgers. I believe that the hot hand of Nate Ament will carry over, and although Ja'Kobi Gillespie may not have 32 points, I see him having well over 15 in this game. This will be a defensive effort that shines through for the Vols, and I think they will pull of a bit of an upset. I am the only one picking Tennessee to win this game, and I feel a whole lot better about this then I did entering yesterday."