Wofford Terriers vs Tennessee Volunteers prediction: Juke Harris and a rebuilt Tennessee face Wofford's three-point barrage
Tennessee brings back less than a tenth of last season's minutes, so a brand-new roster gets its first real test against a SoCon team that likes to shoot from deep.
| Spread | Tennessee -27.5 |
|---|---|
| Total (over/under) | 153 |
- Tennessee's transfer-heavy roster should control the glass and the paint, while Wofford needs a hot night from three to stay close.
- Wofford's high-volume perimeter attack against a Tennessee defense Barnes said lacked intensity early in practice.
- No line posted yet. Last season's final adjusted net ratings: Tennessee 14th, Wofford 242nd of 365.
A new team in old colors
Rick Barnes is starting his 12th season with what amounts to an expansion roster. Tennessee's returners played just 9.5% of last season's minutes and scored 7.4% of its points, and the program has 13 newcomers. That makes last season's Tennessee numbers, including an Elite Eight run, a weak guide to what takes the floor in Knoxville.
The new core is built from proven transfers. Juke Harris averaged 21.4 points as a full-time starter at Wake Forest. Dai Dai Ames scored 16.9 a game at California, and Jalen Haralson carried a usage rate of 33% at Notre Dame, meaning a third of Notre Dame's possessions ended with him when he was on the floor. Harris, Ames and Haralson were all in the probable starting five for the Oct. 15 exhibition against Xavier, alongside Terrence Hill Jr. and DeWayne Brown II. Barnes said about 10 players are close and the lineup isn't settled.
For Wofford, this is the season opener, and the Terriers play North Carolina three days later. The programs met in Knoxville in November 2023, a Tennessee win by 82-61, and again in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Wofford lives behind the arc
The Terriers' identity last season was volume shooting. Their 3-point attempt rate of 43.8% ranked 92nd nationally, and they made 34.9% of those tries. That kind of profile can drag a heavy favorite into a closer game if the shots fall.
Tennessee's defense last season held opponents to 30.5% from three, 24th in the country. But the players who built that number are largely gone, and Barnes said Oct. 13 that early practices lacked defensive intensity before improving over the last month. How quickly this group learns his defense is the biggest unknown in the game.
Possessions and the glass
Wofford's best trait last season was ball security. Its turnover rate of 13.8 per 100 possessions ranked 16th of 365, which keeps a team like this from being run out of the gym on live-ball mistakes.
The bigger problem is size and second chances. Tennessee led the nation last season with an offensive rebound rate of 44.6%, meaning it grabbed nearly half its own misses. Felix Okpara, a key piece of that front line, is gone, but Loyola Chicago transfer Miles Rubin arrives after averaging 7.1 rebounds and 2.2 blocks. Wofford's defensive rebound rate of 71.5% ranked 106th, decent but not built to absorb a rebounding team. Its defense was the weak link overall: last season's final adjusted defensive efficiency (points allowed per 100 possessions, adjusted for opponents) ranked 297th.
Who is available
Tyler Lundblade, the Belmont transfer coming off offseason back surgery, said Oct. 13 that he is practicing fully but still regaining his conditioning. Troy Henderson, back from shoulder surgery, has been practicing, though no game status has been announced. Fifth-year transfer Jalen Washington's eligibility is unresolved. Barnes said he will play if cleared and that the staff is preparing without him. Nate Ament is not on Tennessee's listed roster.
Nothing has surfaced on Wofford injuries or eligibility.
The Terriers under Giltner
Kevin Giltner enters his second season after taking over when Dwight Perry was let go in September 2025. Wofford went 19-13 last season and was picked third in the SoCon preseason poll with 78 points, behind Furman and ETSU. The Terriers added four transfers, Chris Arias, Jacob Daniels, Cam Lowe and Evan Ramsey, plus four freshmen, so their own rotation is still taking shape.
What to watch
- How many threes Wofford gets up early, and whether Tennessee's new perimeter defenders chase them off the line.
- Rubin and Brown on the offensive glass against a smaller Wofford front.
- Lundblade's minutes as he works back to full conditioning.
Wofford Terriers vs Tennessee Volunteers line movement and odds
| Book | Terriers ML | Volunteers ML | Terriers spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | — | — | +26.5 (-110) | o154.5 (-110) |
| BetRivers | — | — | +26.5 (-110) | o154.5 (-113) |
| DraftKings | +3500 | -20000 | +26.5 (-108) | o154.5 (-115) |
| ESPN BET | — | — | +26.5 (-110) | o154.5 (-115) |
| Fanatics | +6000 | -20000 | +27 (-110) | — |
| FanDuel | +4000 | -30000 | +25.5 (-104) | o154.5 (-110) |
| Caesars | — | — | +27 (-110) | o155 (-110) |
Where the money is on Wofford Terriers vs Tennessee Volunteers
On the Kalshi moneyline: Wofford Terriers: 74% of bets, 12% of the money; Tennessee Volunteers: 26% of bets, 88% of the money. On the Kalshi spread: Tennessee Volunteers -27.5: 60% of bets, 40% of the money; Wofford Terriers +27.5: 40% of bets, 60% of the money. On the Kalshi total: Over 152.5: 100% of bets, 100% of the money; Under 152.5: 0% of bets, 0% of the money.
Wofford Terriers vs Tennessee Volunteers stats (this season)
| Stat | Wofford Terriers | Tennessee Volunteers |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Adjusted offensive efficiency | 108.7 (175th of 365) | 121.8 (34th of 365) |
| Adjusted defensive efficiency | 115.7 (297th of 365) | 94.1 (13th of 365) |
| Adjusted net efficiency | -7.0 (242nd of 365) | 27.8 (14th of 365) |
Key players
- Juke Harris (Tennessee): Averaged 21.4 points and 6.5 rebounds in 35.2 minutes a game at Wake Forest last season.
- Tyler Lundblade (Tennessee): Made 40.6% of 283 three-point attempts at Belmont last season and shot 93.4% at the line.
- Miles Rubin (Tennessee): Blocked 2.2 shots a game at Loyola Chicago last season while shooting 58.5% from the field.
- DeWayne Brown II (Tennessee): Tennessee's top returner shot 58.6% from the field in 14.6 minutes a game last season.
Numbers that matter
| Tennessee returning minutes | 9.5% | Almost none of last season's rotation is back, so last season's team stats say little about this group. |
|---|---|---|
| Wofford 3-point attempt rate, last season | 43.8% | Ranked 92nd nationally; the Terriers' path to an upset runs through volume shooting. |
| Tennessee offensive rebound rate, last season | 44.6% | First in the country, though much of the front line that produced it has turned over. |
| Wofford turnover rate, last season | 13.8% | Ranked 16th, a sign the Terriers won't hand away many easy possessions. |
| Wofford adjusted defensive efficiency rank, last season | 297th | A defense that struggled against SoCon competition faces a roster full of high-major scorers. |
Wofford Terriers vs Tennessee Volunteers: quick answers
Who is favored in Wofford Terriers vs Tennessee Volunteers?
Tennessee is favored by 27.5 points (Tennessee -27.5).
What is the over/under for Wofford Terriers vs Tennessee Volunteers?
The total is 153 points.
When is Wofford Terriers vs Tennessee Volunteers?
Tuesday, November 3, 2026 at 6:00 PM ET.
Where is Wofford Terriers vs Tennessee Volunteers played?
Food City Center, Knoxville, TN.
Has the line moved for Wofford Terriers vs Tennessee Volunteers?
Yes: Wofford Terriers opened +27.5 and is now +26.5, and the total moved from 153.5 to 154.5 (consensus of the regulated US sportsbooks since we first saw the game).
Where is the money on Wofford Terriers vs Tennessee Volunteers?
On the Kalshi moneyline: Wofford Terriers: 74% of bets, 12% of the money; Tennessee Volunteers: 26% of bets, 88% of the money. On the Kalshi spread: Tennessee Volunteers -27.5: 60% of bets, 40% of the money; Wofford Terriers +27.5: 40% of bets, 60% of the money. On the Kalshi total: Over 152.5: 100% of bets, 100% of the money; Under 152.5: 0% of bets, 0% of the money.