VIC MONTE SPORTS
500* TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS -2
Wayne Chism has got to be in his, what, eight year of college hoops now? Come on, its seemed like I have been bringing up his name the past decade in write-ups when I choose to back the Volunteers on the college hardwood. For those of you about to call the NCAA headquarters to report this Julio Franco age like dilemma, don't, I looked it up, he has only been here since the 2006 season and is a fourth year senior. Aside wearing his headband like Mike Reno in his days as lead singer for Loverboy, Chism is a moneymaker and a security asset for people backing Tennessee. He single handily changes game after game recording double doubles in the Vols blowout win at home to Auburn and Ole Miss. Against Kansas he got physical down nearly every possession and shut down the then rated #1 Jayhawks potent offensive attack. Tonight Chism leads the surging Tennessee Volunteers into Tuscaloosa to take on the slumping, and I say that as nicely as I can, Alabama Crimson Tide.
Coming off an embarrassing loss to USC on December 19Th the Volunteers sat at 8-2 on the season with 8 meaningless wins and 2 crushing losses to the only 2 quality programs on their schedule. Playing 5 of their next six games at home Bruce Pearl needed his team to make a statement. Two days before Christmas the Vols pounded North Carolina A&T by 21 points, then traveled to Memphis where they beat the Tigers and a hostile crowd 66-59. Then the four game home stand started with a blowout of Charlotte 88-71. The Vols then handed number one Kansas their first loss of the year 76-68 which was followed up by an absolute dismantling of Auburn 88-51 and a OT thriller of number 23 ranked Ole Miss 71-69. Chism, Pearl and company are thrilled and after cutting some "slack" after a New Years Day traffic incident the team chemistry has boomed and the Vols are playing some of the best basketball in the country. Tennessee sits 20Th in the nation offensively producing 80 points per game while allowing teams to score only 62.
Alabama on the other hand is in serious trouble. It appears the national championship celebration hangover is still in full effect. Besides the Tide beating up on the worst team in the SEC, the LSU Tigers, they have failed to win a game in conference this year. Losses to Vanderbilt and Arkansas added with Florida State, Purdue, Cornell and Kansas State lead the Tides signature victory a November 26Th win over Baylor. Alabama is just 1-5 against the number in their past 6 home games. They sit at 3-8 n the last 11 as a home underdog. Their sputtering offense is generating a 144Th ranked 70 points per game and a par for the course defense is holding teams to 65 a game.
You can not back this Alabama team because they do not win games, they maintain. They will play with teams until a mistake is made and even then struggle to close the gap. Alabama has been matched up against terrible teams all year and still have covered only 50% of games. They have been home underdogs 3 times this season, they have failed to win or cover any of those games. Tennessee is motivated, they are hungry, they have desire to win and they are here to make a statement. They have this game today and don't play until Saturday against Georgia who is bottom of the SEC east. They are focused to win this one because they know just as well as we do, its going to take a miracle for the game on the weekend to be competitive. The Vols get it done in a big way tonight in Tuscaloosa and will move into second place in the SEC just behind Kentucky. 500* Syndicate - Tennessee -2
