2024 March Madness Round 64 Lines: Saint Peter’s vs Tennessee Odds and Pick

 

Previous Betting News

The ACC/SEC Basketball Challenge continues on Wednesday with another terrific ranked matchup as No. 10 Tennessee, the preseason SEC favorite, visits No. 17 North Carolina. The game is so evenly matched that it opened as a pick’em on the NCAAB odds. 2023 NCAA Basketball Betting & Expert Analysis #10 Tennessee vs #17 North Carolina | MyBookie Sportsbook College Basketball Regular Season: November 6, 2023 – March 17, 2024 | Week 4 NCAAB

How to Bet Tennessee at North Carolina NCAA Basketball Odds & TV Info

When: Wednesday, 7:15 PM ET
Where: Dean E. Smith Center
TV: ESPN
Stream: ESPN+
Radio: Tunein.com
Opening NCAAB Lines: Pick’em (total 142)

Series History

North Carolina leads the all-time series 10-2. It dates to February 1911 when Tennessee played at North Carolina in just the 35th game in program history during its third season (1910-11). After dropping each of the first eight non-home contests in the series, Tennessee, in the most recent meeting between the two teams, logged an 89-72 victory over North Carolina, the eventual NCAA runner-up, on Nov. 21, 2021, in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament in Uncasville, Conn., behind 18 points from Zakai Zeigler. UT coach Rick Barnes is 7-3 in his last 10 games against North Carolina, as he went 5-1 during his Texas tenure. But he hasn’t won a game at the Smith Center, going 0-4 when he was the Clemson coach in the late 1990s.

Why Bet on Tennessee Volunteers?

The Vols (4-2) have been off since a 69-60 loss to No. 1 Kansas on Nov. 22 in the Maui Invitational. Tennessee, then ranked seventh, led by three multiple times in the second half, but the Jayhawks ended the contest with 10 of the final 15 points in the last six minutes to come away with the victory. Tennessee fifth-year guard Santiago Vescovi totaled a season-best 21 points to lead all scorers.

Vescovi’s 21 points came on 8-of-16 shooting, including a 5-of-11 clip from beyond the arc. Dalton Knecht totaled 13 points and six rebounds, while Jordan Gainey compiled 13 points and a season-best four boards. Jonas Aidoo added eight points, a team-best and co-season-high 11 rebounds, a game-best three blocks and three steals. Aidoo became the first player in Coach Rick Barnes’ tenure with eight points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and three steals in a game, as well as the first player from any school with that line against a Power Six opponent since DePaul’s Nick Ongenda on Feb. 25, 2023, versus Georgetown.

The Volunteers ended the day with a 17-5 edge in points off turnovers and a 14-6 margin in fast-break points, but Kansas registered a 40-26 cushion in paint points. The Jayhawks took 19 fewer shots in the game, but made five more, logging a 27-of-52 (51.9 percent) mark to the Volunteers’ 22-of-71 (31.0 percent) tally.

Tennessee is now 12-12 against AP top-10 teams under Barnes, including 10-6 in its last 16 matchups, 7-4 since the start of the 2021-22 season and 7-3 in the past 10 such affairs. This will hit close to home for Barnes, who hails from Hickory, N.C., approximately 150 miles west of the Dean E. Smith Center, and was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in April 2023.

UNC star Armando Bacot is the third consecutive AP Preseason First Team All-American big man the Volunteers will face, following Purdue’s Zach Edey and Kansas’ Hunter Dickinson. The Vols are 115-100 all-time against current ACC schools and Rick Barnes is 76-75 versus such foes. Tennessee, under Barnes, has won three in a row over ACC foes (Syracuse, Duke and North Carolina), all at neutral sites.

This is the first time Tennessee is ever playing three straight ranked teams in non-conference play in a single season. The Vols are 21-19 (.525) in Top-25 matchups under Barnes, including 16-12 (.571) with both teams in the top 20, 9-7 (.562) with both in the Top 15 and 6-5 (.545) with both in the Top 10. Tennessee leads all SEC teams in both AP top-25 wins (15) and AP top-10 victories (seven) over the past four seasons (2020-24).

In Zakai Zeigler’s three seasons, Tennessee is 7-4 against AP top-10 teams. He is averaging 13.1 ppg in the seven victories and 8.3 ppg in the four defeats. Zeigler suffered a season-ending left knee injury, a torn ACL, just three minutes into Tennessee’s home finale against Arkansas last season but is back, although he is being limited to about 20 minutes per night for now.

Bet Tennessee to Win
MyBookie Betting Lines for NCAAB

Why Bet on North Carolina Tar Heels?

North Carolina (5-1) last took the court Friday in the Bahamas and beat Arkansas 87-72. RJ Davis tied his career high with 30 points in the third-place game of the Battle 4 Atlantis. A day after scoring a season-high 23 points in a loss to Villanova, Davis topped that effort with 30 against the Razorbacks, tying his career-best effort of 30 points against Baylor in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. He connected on 9 of 18 shot attempts and drained all 10 of his free throw tries in a stellar 34 minutes. He was named Co-ACC Player of the Week.

Davis is UNC’s all-time leader in free throw percentage at 85.4% and has climbed from 19th at the start of the season to a tie for 14th in ACC history in free throw accuracy. Davis is second, however, on the team this season from the line. Cormac Ryan has made 93.3% (14 of 15), Davis is shooting 91.3% (21 of 23) and Armando Bacot is third at 85.7% (24 of 28).

Seth Trimble scored a career-high 12 points for Carolina, and Harrison Ingram had 13 points and 10 rebounds. He is the only Tar Heel to score in double figures in all six games this season. The Tar Heels shot 58.6 percent from the floor in the second half (17 for 29), maintaining a lead and not allowing the Razorbacks to climb back into the game. Carolina outscored the Razorbacks in the paint, 38-24.

Ryan missed the game with a sprained right ankle. He had started the first five games and is averaging 10.8 points per game. Freshman Elliot Cadeau made his first career start in Ryan’s place and finished with seven points, three assists and two turnovers.

Carolina has scored 80 or more points in five of its first six games this season and the first time since the 2018-19 season. The Tar Heels are 31-4 in three seasons under Hubert Davis when they score 80 or more points. UNC is 226-18 all-time against non-ACC teams in the Smith Center. Per KenPom, Carolina is 12th in the country in offensive efficiency (117.7 points per 100 possessions), while Tennessee is No. 1 in defensive efficiency (87.4).

The ACC-SEC Challenge replaces the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, in which the Tar Heels went 11- 13 from 1999-2023.

Bet North Carolina to Win
MyBookie Betting Lines for NCAAB

College Basketball Expert Prediction #10 Tennessee vs #17 North Carolina

UNC 70, Tennessee 68

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MyBookie Odds for the Games

 

 

Previous Betting News

No question the biggest story of the 2022 NCAA Tournament thus far has been little Saint Peter’s University as the No. 15 Peacocks are in the Sweet 16 for the first time. However, they are double-digit underdogs vs. No. 3 Purdue in East Region action on Friday.

How to Bet Saint Peter’s vs. Purdue NCAA Basketball Odds & TV Info

When: Friday, 7:09 PM ET
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
TV: CBS
Stream: https://www.ncaa.com/march-madness-live
Radio: Tunein.com
Opening NCAAB Lines: Purdue -12.5 (total 135)

Why Bet on Saint Peter’s?

Little Saint Peter’s is the first-ever MAAC school to reach the Sweet 16. It is located in Jersey City, NJ, and only has an enrollment of around 2,500. It is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States and the only one in New Jersey. t is a founding member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).

The Peacocks stunned Kentucky in Round 1 and then ended Murray State’s 21-game winning streak in Round 2, 70-60, to become the third 15 seed to advance to a regional semifinal, joining Oral Roberts last year and Florida Gulf Coast in 2013. Those other two teams lost in the Sweet 16.

SPU is led by coach Shaheen Holloway, a North Jersey hoops lifer who played at Seton Hall and apprenticed there as an assistant. Holloway is expected to take over as the new coach at Seton Hall with Kevin Willard leaving for Maryland. Holloway has been selected as a finalist for three national coaching awards this week.

SPU led wire-to-wire vs. Murray State, which had the nation’s longest winning streak. KC Ndefo, the three-time reigning MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, recorded 10 rebounds to go along with his 17 points to record his seventh career double-double while also adding six blocks to become the first player in program history to reach 300 career blocks.

The Peacocks allowed just 60 points against a team who came into the contest averaging over 80 points per game. With that, SPU has now held eight of its last nine opponents to under 70 points. The nine-game win streak is the longest for the Peacocks since winning nine straight in the 1994-95 season, one of just three other trips to the NCAA Tournament in program history.

Ndefo is the anchor of the Peacocks as he is averaging 10.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game this season. Daryl Banks III leads the Peacocks offensively overall on the season averaging 11.5 points per game this season. Banks has scored in double figures 19 times this season. SPU has one of the top defenses in the NCAA, leading the MAAC and ranking 21st in DI allowing just 62.3 points per game.

The Peacocks currently rank ninth in the country in field goal percentage defense, 14th in 3-point field goal percentage defense, 24th in scoring defense and 25th in blocked shots per game. The Peacocks have allowed under 70 points in 20 of their last 24 games and hold a 19-5 record this season when allowing less than 70.

Why Bet on Purdue?

Purdue (29-7) pulled away late to beat Texas 81-71 in Round 2. Purdue was clinging to a 74-71 lead when star Jaden Ivey made a move to get clear of UT’s Courtney Ramey before sinking a 3-pointer with 1:01 remaining. That started a 7-0 run to end the game. Ivey didn’t score in the first 16 minutes of the game and didn’t have a single basket in the first half. The Associated Press All-America second-team selection kept working and finished with 18 points.

“All game he was chirping, just trying to get me out of rhythm,” Ivey said. “I just stayed poised the whole game. That’s what it comes down to. People are going to try to get you out of rhythm and try to talk to you. You’ve just got to stay focused on the main goal, and I felt like I did that.”

Over the past 30 years, Ivey is one of eight underclassmen nationally with 600 points, 150 rebounds, 100 assists, 30 steals and 20 blocks in a season. He is one of four Big Ten players to do so. Ivey moved to 19th place on the school’s single-season scoring list (615 points).

Trevion Williams had 22 points, seven rebounds and two assists in the win. Zach Edey recorded his 11th double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Williams and Edey combined for 33 points and 17 rebounds while going 12-of-19 from the field.

Ivey, Williams and Edey are averaging a combined 43.4 points per game, accounting for 54.4 percent of Purdue’s points. The trio has each scored in double-figures in 16 of the 36 games.

Purdue is making its fourth Sweet 16 appearance in the last five tournaments, the third-most in the country (Gonzaga, Michigan – 5). Purdue went 19 years between Elite 8 appearances (2000 to 2019). It is attempting to reach its second Elite 8 in the last three years. Iowa State (15-0), Purdue (13-0) and Minnesota (9-0) are the only undefeated teams nationally against non-conference opposition.

Purdue leads the all-time series with Saint Peter’s by a 1-0 advantage, defeating the Peacocks in the 2011 NCAA Tournament first round, 65-43. Purdue is 13-0 all-time against the current members of the MAAC.

Expert Prediction

Purdue 73, Saint Peter’s 61

 

 

Previous Betting News

Mississippi State hasn’t won in Knoxville in men’s basketball for a while, and the Bulldogs are double-digit underdogs on the NCAAB odds when they visit No. 18 Tennessee in SEC action on Tuesday.

How to Bet Mississippi State at Tennessee NCAA Basketball Odds & TV Info

When: Tuesday, 7 PM ET
Where: Thompson-Boling Arena
TV: SEC Network
Stream: ESPN app
Radio:com
Opening NCAAB Lines: Vols -10 (total 130.5)

Last Meeting

The schools are scheduled to meet once this season and only played once last year, a Mississippi State 86-73 home victory. Reggie Perry had 24 points with 12 rebounds and D.J. Stewart had 20 points for the Bulldogs. MSU shot 57% for the game and made a sizzling 69% in the second half. Mississippi State made 5 of 12 beyond the arc and made 25 of 30 free throws. The Bulldogs also held a 36-24 rebounding advantage and out-rebounded the Volunteers 23-8 in the second half. UT had won four in a row in the series.

Why Bet on Mississippi State? | 2021 NCAA Basketball Expert Analysis

The Bulldogs (9-7) lost their second in a row Saturday, 81-73 at then-No. 18 Alabama. MSU cut an 11-point second-half deficit down to three in the final minute, but John Petty Jr. answered with a 3-pointer with 32 seconds left. The home team has won the last eight meetings.

“I thought our guys really played hard and really played tough,” Bulldogs coach Ben Howland said. “We battled and went after every 50-50 ball with all our might. I think there were a lot of positives today even though we lost the game.”

D.J. Stewart Jr. fired in a SEC career-high 27 points and collected a career-best four steals in the loss. The 27 points marked Stewart Jr.’s second-highest scoring output of his career en route to his fifth outing of 20-plus points on the season. Stewart Jr.’s previous SEC scoring mark was a 24-point performance during State’s victory over No. 13 Missouri on 01/05.

Stewart Jr. has produced double figures in 15 of 16 games on the season. Iverson Molinar joined Stewart Jr. in double figures as he piled up 19 points coupled with three steals and two rebounds. He has chipped in 10-plus points during 12 of his 13 appearances in 2020-21.

Mississippi State recorded a season’s best 13 steals, which matched its third-highest total versus a SEC opponent under Ben Howland. The 13 steals were the most for the Bulldogs in a game since tallying 14 at Arkansas on 02/16/2019.

A balanced offensive attack has been a successful formula for Mississippi State in 2020-21 as the Bulldogs have won seven of its eight games in 2020-21 record when four players or more reach double figures.

Mississippi State has won the battle of boards against 14 of its 16 opponents in 2020-21, highlighted by a +10 rebounding margin in six games. The Bulldogs hold the SEC’s top spot limiting their opponents to 30.9 rebounds per game and a +8.6 rebounding margin. Mississippi State is 5-1 when committing 12 turnovers or less this season.

Why Bet on Tennessee? | 2021 NCAA Basketball Expert Analysis

The Vols (10-3) lost their second in a row Saturday, 73-64 at home to then-No. 19 Missouri. It was Missouri’s first win in Knoxville since 1972. Xavier Pinson was unstoppable with 27 points — Pinson became the first opponent to score more than 20 points against the Volunteers this season.

Tennessee played without freshman standout Jaden Springer, who missed the game with an ankle injury. It’s not clear if he will go here.

“I’m not concerned about our defense as much as I am about our offense,” UT coach Rick Barnes said. “All the pressure is on our offense. Our defense feeds off the offense.”

The Vols were led in scoring by senior Yves Pons, who scored a season-high 20 points on 6-of-11 shooting. The reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year also pulled in five rebounds and blocked two shots.

Junior guard Victor Bailey Jr. scored 12 points—eight of which came in the second half—dished out three assists and recorded two steals. Sophomore Josiah-Jordan James also scored 12 points, while recording five rebounds, a block and a steal on the night.

Tennessee tops the SEC leaderboard in scoring defense (59.8), scoring margin (+14.2), turnover margin (+5.5) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4). The Volunteers also have limited their opposition to a 39.9 percent shooting clip which is second in the SEC rankings.

Tennessee possesses a balanced offensive attack with seven players averaging over eight points for the season. John Fulkerson (11.8 PPG, 6.2 RPG), Bailey Jr. (11.6 PPG) and Springer (10.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.1 SPG) led the way in double figures. Bailey Jr. has come off the bench for the Volunteers in the last five games. Santiago Vescovi (9.3 PPG, 3.4 APG, 1.2 SPG) has knocked down 27 of his 37 shots from beyond the three-point line.

Expert College Basketball Prediction

Tennessee 74, Mississippi State 65

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MyBookie Odds for the Games

 

 

Previous Betting News

There will be at least one Cinderella team in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament as Saint Peter’s and Murray State get ready to plan in the second round on Saturday.

With their upset of No. 2 Kentucky on Thursday, the Peacocks (20-11) are the 10th No. 15 seed to advance to the second round, while the Racers (31-2) needed overtime to get past San Francisco.

Saturday’s tip-off is set for 7:45 p.m. ET on CBS, and the game will be played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The programs haven’t met before, and neither has ever been to a Sweet 16. Murray State is 0-4 in the Round of 32, while St. Peter’s picked up their first-ever tournament win on Thursday night. Check out March Madness Odds, analysis, and a free prediction for Saint Peter’s Peacocks versus Murray State Racers.

Men’s College Basketball March Madness Betting: #15 Saint Peter’s vs #7 Murray State Match Preview

Saint Peter’s Outlook

The Peacocks are 21-9-1 ATS this season, and the under is 18-13 in their 31 games. The offense ranks 259th overall, while the defense ranks 34th. They allowed just 62.4 ppg on the season and held opponents to 39.1% shooting from the field 30% from 3-point range.

In Thursday’s upset of Kentucky, the Peacocks shot 50.9% from the field and hit 52.9% of their 3-pointers. Both were way above their regular-season numbers as they shot 42.9% from the field and 35% from deep through the first 20 games.

Daryl Banks III was impressive against UK with 27 points on 5-of-8 3-point shooting. Doug Edert came off the bench and scored 20 points, including an 8-for-8 performance from the line. Edert also had 20 points in the MAAC Championship game win over Monmouth.

On the season, Banks leads the team with 11.5 ppg while KC Ndefo ranks second at 10.5 ppg. Ndefo leads the team in rebounding at 6.1 rpg, and Edert scores 9.5 ppg. Banks and Edert are the top 3-point shooters, and Ndefo averages 2.7 blocks per game.

Murray State Outlook

Murray State is a well-rounded team, ranking 34th in the nation in offense and 40th in defense. They average 79.3 ppg and shoot 48.1% from the field while allowing 61.7 ppg. The defense holds opponents to 40.7% shooting from the field and 30% from 3-point range.

The Racers let a late lead slip away on Thursday but rallied to win in overtime, 92-87 over San Francisco. They were just 6-of-21 (28%) from the 3-point range but made 25-of-43 (58%) inside the arc. K.J. Williams and Trae Hannibal led the way with 18 points each, while Tevin Brown had 17.

Williams leads the Racers in scoring and rebounding on the season with 18.2 ppg and 8.5 rpg. Brown is right behind him with 16.9 ppg, and he’s knocked down 103 3-pointers at a 38.7% shooting clip. Justice Hill is also in double figures scoring-wise at 13.2 ppg.

The Racers swept through the Ohio Valley Conference at 18-0, and they haven’t lost since a December 22 setback at Auburn. The Racers have scored at least 70 points in five straight games and have only allowed 70 twice since January 27.

Murray State vs Saint Peter’s Betting Analysis

Murray State Racers -8 (-110). Money Line -400
Saint Peter’s Peacocks +8 (-110). Money Line +310
Total Points 129.5 Over -110. Under -110.

This game will come down to pace as Murray State looks to speed things up and launch 3-pointers while the Peacocks want to slow down and win in a half-court game. Both teams are playing fantastic basketball at the right time and have a great opportunity in front of them.

Murray State’s offense found another gear on Thursday, and points should be plentiful on Saturday.

Betting Pick: Over 129.5 (-110)

 

 

Previous Betting News

This writer believes that No. 2 seed Kentucky will reach the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament and the Cats open play against No. 15 Saint Peter’s on Thursday in East Region action. UK is a heavy favorite on the NCAAB odds. It’s the first meeting between the schools.

How to Bet Kentucky vs. Saint Peter’s NCAA Basketball Odds & TV Info

When: Thursday, 7:10 PM ET
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
TV: CBS
Stream: https://www.ncaa.com/march-madness-live
Radio: Tunein.com
Opening NCAAB Lines: Kentucky -18 (total 132)

Why Bet on Kentucky?

Kentucky (26-7) comes off a loss to Tennessee on Saturday in the SEC Tournament semifinals, 69-62. The Wildcats missed four 3-pointers in the final minute, with Keion Brooks, Kellan Grady, TyTy Washington and Sahvir Wheeler all misfiring. It was a fitting end to a frustrating day for the Wildcats. Kentucky shot a measly 34.4% from the field and missed 18 of 20 from behind the arc. Both of the Wildcats’ worst shooting performances of the season came against Tennessee.

Oscar Tshiebwe had 13 points and 11 rebounds to notch his 15th consecutive double-double and 27th of the season, breaking the single-season mark set by Kentucky great Dan Issel in 1969-70. The nation’s leading rebounder has 20 straight games with double-figure rebounds, longest streak in one season since Kevin Marfo of Quinnipiac had a 20-game stretch in 2019-20. Tshiebwe has grabbed double-figure boards in all but two games this season. Has 993 career points, needing only seven to reach 1,000. Has 499 rebounds this season, needs one to be the third player in Kentucky history to gather 500 caroms in a season.

Kentucky won the rebounding 43-38, leading to a 10-3 advantage in second-chance points. UK has a 23-4 record this season when leading the rebounding.

Brooks Jr. led the Wildcats with 19 points, most since his 20-point outing vs. Vanderbilt on Feb. 2. It is his 17th double-figure scoring game of the season. Washington Jr. had 17 points and six rebounds while also leading UK with four assists and three steals. It is his 20th double-figure scoring game of the season.

John Calipari has a rare blend of youth and experience this year. Tshiebwe, Wheeler and Grady lead the most efficient offense in the SEC. And Washington Jr. (12.8 PPG, 4.0 APG) is the freshman who finds ways to impact games even when he’s not scoring.

This is the eighth time in program history Kentucky has earned a No. 2 seed since tourney seedings began in 1980. In its most recent NCAA appearance, the Cats participated as the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region of the 2019 tournament, defeating Abilene Christian, Wofford and Houston before losing to Auburn in overtime in the regional finals. In addition to most appearances with 59, Kentucky holds the NCAA Tournament records for most games played (181) and most wins (129). The Cats own a 129-52 all-time record in NCAA action, with their .713 winning percentage the fourth-best in NCAA history (min. 20 games).

Kentucky is 48-10 in NCAA Tournament openers and has won 25 of its last 26 opening-round games.

Why Bet on Saint Peter’s?

Saint Peter’s (19-11) beat Monmouth 60-54 on Saturday to win the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament championship for the first time since the 2010-11 season and the fourth time in program history.

Senior KC Ndefo, who was named the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, was named the Tournament MVP after finishing the title game with seven points, seven rebounds, four blocked shots and two assists. In the tournament as a whole, Ndefo averaged 13.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game to earn MVP honors. The three-time MAAC Defensive Player of the Year now has 296 career blocks as he looks to become the first player in program history to reach 300 blocks in a career.

Juniors Doug Edert and Matthew Lee both also earned spots on the MAAC All-Tournament team. Edert scored 10 of the Peacocks’ final 12 points of the contest and finished 20 points in the championship to lead all scorers. The junior hit the biggest shot of the game with 46 seconds left when he rose up and buried a 3-pointer to grow the Peacock lead from two to five. He would go on to knock down five free throws down the stretch.

Lee, meanwhile, chipped in eight points shooting 50% from the floor and ended the tournament averaging 10.3 points per game across the three contests. As it has been all season, the Peacocks defense was suffocating throughout as they held the Hawks to just 23.5 percent from the floor and 15.8 percent from 3-point range./

It was the seventh straight opponent that SPU held under 70 points. It is now allowing just 61.8 points per game, good for the 19th-best mark in the country. Also on the defensive end, SPU is now holding opponents to just 38.3 percent from the floor which is the sixth-best in the NCAA.

It is the fourth appearance in the NCAA Tournament for SPU after previously appearing in 1990-91, 1994-95 and 2010-11. The Peacocks are a #15 seed for the second time in program history after previously earning a #12 seed in the 1991 tournament and a #14 seed in 2011.

Coach Shaheen Holloway, a star at Seton Hall in the late 1990s, had struggled to get the program off the ground. His first season at the helm in 2018-19 was the program’s seventh losing season in eight years. But Saint Peter’s has made big strides.

Expert Prediction

Kentucky 74, Saint Peter’s 59

 

 

Previous Betting News

With the end of the 2018-19 NCAA college basketball regular season at hand and the start of the March Madness tournament getting closer by the day, college hoops bettors everywhere need to know just which teams look like they could be legitimate potential winners of this year’s national championship. The odds to win the College Basketball Championship are quite in their favor.

Download Our Exclusive 2019 March Madness Bracket now!

With that thought in mind, we’re going to delve into the question of whether or not the seventh-ranked Tennessee Volunteers (27-3) are a legitimate national championship selection or whether you’d be better served making your national championship pick on another legitimate title favorite. Okay, with that said, let’s get started.

Is #5 Tennessee a Winning Pick for the 2019 March Madness Tournament?

Why Tennessee Is A Winning Pick to Win It All

The Offense

Tennessee can score the ball with just about any team in the nation as they average a healthy 82.4 points per game to rank 20th nationally in scoring. The Vols rank a stellar sixth in field goal shooting percentage (50.0%) and have five players that average double figures in scoring.

A Legitimate Star

Tennessee has a legitimate star in junior forward Grant Williams (19.1 ppg, 7.6 ppg) that they can turn to when they need a basket. Williams might not get the national media attention that other players get, but he’s a star in every sense of the word.

The Defense

Tennessee limits the opposition to 67.1 points per game to rank 62nd nationally in points allowed. More importantly, the Vols rank a stellar ninth in field goal defense by harassing their opponents into a woeful 39.0 percent shooting mark.

They’ve Beaten Some Powerhouses

The Vols have recorded wins over Louisville, currently, top-ranked Gonzaga and Kentucky, among others and that is a great indicator that they can beat anyone.

Why Tennessee Is Not A Winning Pick to Win It All

If It’s Three, It’s No For Me!

Tennessee shoots a modest 35.3 percent from beyond the arc (129) and could potentially doom them if they face a hot three-point shooting opponent.

Lack of Depth

While Tennessee features an impressive five double-digit scorers, the Vols also have a noticeable drop-off once you get past their top six rotation players and that could be a problem if one of their top performers gets in foul trouble.

Analysis

In the end, if you want to know whether Tennessee is a winning pick as far as their national championship hopes are concerned, the answer is an unequivocal yes. The Vols can play with any team in the country and they look like legitimate title favorite to me.

 

 

Previous Betting News

The NCAA basketball betting season is now well and truly underway, but there is still some business to attend to before teams get to the heart of the season and conference play. The Florida Atlantic Owls head to the Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville to face the Tennessee Volunteers at 7 PM EST on Wednesday, December 16 on the SEC Network.

Owls vs Volunteers NCAA Basketball Betting Game Preview

The Tennessee Volunteers may have lost 3 games in a row, but they are still coming into this one as the favorite. If you fancy a little bit of a gamble, why not take a look at the spread. The OVER/UNDER is always a good bet, and you can get in on the action in this one.

Why bet the Florida Atlantic Owls

At just 2-6 on the season so far, the Florida Atlantic Owls most certainly do not represent a very good straight up bet opportunity. There are some reasons why you might want to consider them ATS, though, especially when you consider that their last 5 games against Southeastern opposition has seen them go 4-1 ATS. They are going to have to break out of a pretty poor 2-5 ATS slump in their last 7 games to make that happen, though, so you may want to tread a little carefully with this one. It is worth noting that that 2 times they have covered during that stretch was in games played on the road.

Why bet the Tennessee Volunteers

There are a number of good reasons to like the 4-4 Tennessee Volunteers. If you are one of those bettors who believe that teams play better on certain days of the week, then you will like the fact that the Volunteers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Wednesday night games. Better than that, though, is the record that the Volunteers have against teams with a win percentage of .400 or lower. Tennessee is 9-2-0 ATS in their last 11 games against teams sporting that record. The Volunteers are a perfect 3-0-0 ATS in games played in Knoxville this season.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

The Volunteers have only taken a single loss at home this season, losing 82-71 to Nebraska. The Owls are not really anywhere near the caliber of that Nebraska team, so it’s tough to see them taking down the Volunteers in their own building. A double digit win for Tennessee is my thinking.

Florida Atlantic Owls 64 Tennessee Volunteers 76