Published Mar 19, 9:10am ET by
Demilade Adelekun - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Mar 19, 9:10am ET
Updated Mar 19, 9:15am ET
Miami Ohio went 31-0 in the regular season before losing in the MAC Tournament. Their guard play just bested SMU. Now they get Tennessee.
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| Tennessee Volunteers | -600 |
| Miami (OH) RedHawks | +440 |
Miami (Ohio) is 32-1 overall and the 11th seed in the Midwest Region. They are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2004, coming off the program's first tournament win since 1999.
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The guard play that got them past SMU is the entire reason to believe in this team. Elmer, Byers, and Luke Skaljac combined for 59 points on Wednesday and hit threes from every angle on the floor. What makes Miami dangerous is the depth; seven different players average double figures on the season. Can their guard play get them to Sunday?
Tennessee is 22-11 overall and the 6th seed in the Midwest Region — making their eighth straight NCAA Tournament appearance under Rick Barnes, who has reached the second weekend three straight years including back-to-back Elite Eight runs.
Ja'Kobi Gillespie leads the Volunteers at roughly 18 ppg and 5.5 apg. Nate Ament is the X factor of the duo. He is good for nearly 18 points and 7 rebounds a game. Tennessee is a team expecting to reach the second weekend. Can they avoid the RedHawks?
Miami Ohio's guard play is legitimate. They just proved it against SMU. Tennessee is the better team on paper, and Barnes is a tremendous March coach, but Miami's shooting depth and their ability to win close games make them a real threat here.We are going against the grain and picking the Cinderella. Our pick is Miami (Ohio) (+440).
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Pick
Miami (Ohio) (+440)
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