The Big 12 men’s basketball season is just a few weeks old, but we’ve already had some huge games on the non-conference slate, and Friday’s showdown between No. 13 Baylor and No. 11 Tennessee continues that narrative.
After taking down St. John’s and Virginia in the opening rounds of the Baha Mar Hoops Tournament, the Bears (4-1) and the Volunteers (5-0) will play in the Championship Game at 8:30 p.m. CT.
Baylor narrowly clipped off Rick Pitino’s 22nd-ranked St. John’s team with a late game-winning three from Kentucky transfer Jeremy Roach. The 99-98 win was much more exciting than Tennessee’s opening-round 64-42 blowout win over Virginia.
Tennessee is led by Rick Barnes, who has quickly revamped the Tennessee Basketball program into an SEC powerhouse, making the NCAA Tournament for the past six seasons. In 2024-25, Barnes led his team to the Elite Eight, where they narrowly lost to National Championship runner-up Purdue.
Here’s how you can catch the game and how it is expected to play out.
How To Watch Baylor vs. Tennessee
The No. 13 Baylor Bears (4-1) will face the No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers (5-0) in a men’s college basketball showdown on Friday, November 22, 2024, at the Baha Mar Convention Center in Nassau, the Bahamas.
Date: Friday, November 22, 2024
Time: 8:30 p.m. CT
TV Channel: CBSSN
Streaming: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply)
City: Nassau, the Bahamas
Venue: Baha Mar Convention Center
Baylor vs. Tennessee Basketball Betting Info
Line: TENN (-4.5)
Over/Under: 141.5
Baylor vs. Tennessee: Prediction and Projections
After suffering a brutal loss on opening night to Gonzaga, Baylor has bounced back in impressive fashion. The team has won four straight, with two wins coming against teams in the AP Top 25 (No. 20 Arkansas, No. 22 St. John’s).
ESPN’s Bracketology sees the Bears as a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament if it started today.
While Tennessee does sport an undefeated record of 5-0, their wins have been against poor competition. The team has two decent wins against Louisville and Virginia, but both programs are led by first-year head coaches. The other three wins came against Gardner-Webb, Montana, and Austin Peay.
The Volunteers would be a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament if it started today.
Baylor 81, Tennessee 75
ESPN Matchup Predictor: Tennessee (57% Chance of Winning), Baylor (43% Chance of Winning)
Odds Shark Predicted Score: Tennessee 79.3, Baylor 70.6
