Tennessee Volunteers vs Missouri Tigers Picks and Predictions February 5th 2025

Missouri vs. Tennessee: Caleb Grill and the No. 15 Tigers Take Aim at No. 4 Volunteers

Missouri is riding high after securing the most decisive road victory over a ranked opponent in school history. Now, the No. 15 Tigers (17-4, 6-2 SEC) face an even greater challenge as they travel to Knoxville to take on No. 4 Tennessee (18-4, 5-4 SEC) in a high-stakes Southeastern Conference (SEC) showdown on Wednesday night.

With both teams vying for conference supremacy, this matchup features hot shooting, defensive intensity, and key players battling through adversity.

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Missouri’s Momentum and Caleb Grill’s Shooting Surge

The Tigers have been one of the biggest surprises in the SEC, winning six of their last seven games. Their most recent victory—a dominant 88-61 win over then-No. 14 Mississippi State on the road—was Missouri’s largest margin of victory over a ranked team since 1956.

Key Players for Missouri:

• Caleb Grill (13.2 PPG, 49.0% 3PT) – The sharpshooter is coming off back-to-back 20+ point performances, drilling six three-pointers against Mississippi State. He leads the team with 49 made threes and ranks second in the nation in 3-point percentage (49.0%).
• Tamar Bates (13.5 PPG) – The Tigers’ leading scorer provides consistent offensive production.
• Mark Mitchell (12.8 PPG) – A reliable third option in Missouri’s attack.

Missouri shot 55.0% from the field and hit 15-of-32 three-pointers against Mississippi State, a testament to their offensive efficiency.

Head coach Dennis Gates emphasized Grill’s confidence:

“That’s something we’ve seen in practice. I want these guys to play with confidence, and Caleb did just that.”

With their high-powered offense clicking, the Tigers will look to test Tennessee’s elite defense.

Tennessee’s Defensive Strength and Injury Concerns

The Volunteers rebounded from a loss to Kentucky with a 64-44 dismantling of then-No. 5 Florida on Saturday—despite missing two key players.

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Key Players for Tennessee:

• Chaz Lanier (17.9 PPG, 79 3PT) – The Vols’ top scorer and deep threat.
• Zakai Zeigler (12.3 PPG, 7.4 APG) – The team’s floor general, recovering from a knee injury.
• Jordan Gainey (11.0 PPG) – Provides backcourt depth.
• Igor Milicic Jr. (10.4 PPG, 8.1 RPG) – Tennessee’s top rebounder, recovering from illness.

Zeigler suffered a knee injury against Kentucky but is determined to return:

“I’ll be back next game. Simple as that.”

Tennessee’s defense was suffocating against Florida, holding the Gators to just 24.5% shooting and 14.8% from three. That defensive intensity will be crucial against Missouri’s red-hot offense.

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Head-to-Head and Key Matchup Factors

Recent History:

• Missouri has won three of the last five meetings, including a 72-67 home win last season.
• Tennessee holds a strong home-court advantage in Knoxville.

Key Factors to Watch:

1. Missouri’s Three-Point Shooting vs. Tennessee’s Defense – The Tigers are lethal from deep, but the Vols just held Florida to 4-of-27 from beyond the arc.
2. Health of Zakai Zeigler and Igor Milicic Jr. – If they are fully fit, Tennessee gains a major boost.
3. Caleb Grill’s Hot Hand – If Grill continues his scorching shooting streak, Missouri has a legitimate chance to pull off the upset.

Final Thoughts: Can Missouri Break Through Tennessee’s Defense?

This SEC battle will be a classic clash of offense vs. defense. Missouri’s scorching shooting meets Tennessee’s tenacious defense in what promises to be a thrilling contest.

If Missouri can maintain its three-point efficiency and Grill stays hot, the Tigers have the firepower to take down the No. 4 Volunteers. However, if Tennessee’s defense holds strong and Zeigler returns at full strength, the Vols will be tough to beat in Knoxville.

Prediction: A must-watch SEC showdown with major conference implications.