Tennessee Faces Houston in Exciting College Basketball Matchup

Las Vegas, NV — As Thanksgiving week kicks off, college basketball fans have an exciting slate of games to look forward to. On Tuesday, No. 16 Tennessee will face No. 2 Houston in a highly anticipated matchup at 6 p.m. ET at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

This game highlights the 2025 Players Era Festival, featuring eight ranked teams competing in Las Vegas.

In their last outing, Tennessee had an impressive 85-60 victory over Rutgers. Coach Rick Barnes‘ squad has been unbeaten so far this season, holding a 6-0 record. However, this game against Houston marks their first challenge against a top-130 opponent, raising the stakes for the Vols.

Houston, also boasting a 6-0 record, narrowly defeated Iowa State 78-74 in their most recent game, which went into overtime. With both teams riding winning streaks, expectations are high for a competitive game.

Experts predict a close contest, with Houston favored by 3.5 points. Gary Parrish, an analyst, views this matchup as Tennessee’s initial real test of the season against a similarly tough and defensive-minded Houston team.

The two teams had a previous encounter during the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight in March 2025, where Houston triumphed over Tennessee 69-50.

Fans can tune into the game on TNT, where Brandon Gaudin will provide play-by-play commentary, alongside analyst Robbie Hummel and reporter Nabil Karim.