Tennessee beat every team in the SEC except one on its way to capturing the regular-season title. The one team the Volunteers lost to happened to be Mississippi State.

That should ensure a full, motivated effort from the 24-7 Volunteers against the Bulldogs, who finished the regular season with a losing SEC record.

Mississippi State beat LSU, 70-60, as a 4 1/2-point favorite in the first round of the SEC Tournament on Thursday. I'm not putting much stock in that, though. The Bulldogs often had trouble when stepping up in class like they will here. Mississippi State had lost and failed to cover during its previous four games before beating LSU.

The Volunteers, on the other hand, enter the conference tournament 7-1 SU, 6-2 ATS in their past eight games. They've scored at least 81 points in six of their last eight games.

Look for rested Tennessee to get its revenge in a big way against the Bulldogs.