Published Mar 29, 1:22am ET by
Gabriel Kozlow - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Mar 29, 1:22am ET
Updated Mar 29, 1:22am ET
The Tennessee Volunteers face their toughest March Madness battle yet as they take on the Michigan Wolverines in the Elite Eight. The game will be played at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, and can be seen on CBS.
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| MICHIGAN WOLVERINES | -340 |
| TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS | +270 |
Tennessee, the team that took down the popular Miami (OH) RedHawks, has made it all the way to the Elite Eight. The Volunteers have already gotten past the RedHawks, Cavaliers, and Cyclones, but they now face their toughest challenge yet in the Wolverines. Their game against Iowa State featured five lead changes, but Tennessee still pulled away for a 14-point win, which also marked its largest lead of the game.
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The Volunteers will be led by Jakobi Gillespie, Nate Ament, Bishop Boswell, and Felix Okpara against Michigan. Their most important priorities in this matchup will be a strong defensive scheme, a focus on rebounding, and applying perimeter pressure. Tennessee has also proven itself against top competition this season, with wins over Houston, Louisville, Alabama, and Vanderbilt.
The Wolverines have beaten every team in March Madness by a comfortable margin so far. That includes a 13-point win over Alabama, a 23-point win over Saint Louis, and a 21-point win over Howard. These have all been high-scoring performances, with Michigan averaging 95.3 points per game during that stretch.
Yaxel Lendeborg has been a major problem for opponents, most recently putting up 23 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists against Alabama. Another key reason for Michigan’s success has been its strong three-point shooting, as the Wolverines hit 48% from beyond the arc.
The Wolverines are 7.5 point favorites, with the over/under set at 146.5. The moneyline is -340 for Michigan and +270 for Tennessee. Historically, No. 6 seeds beat No. 1 seeds in the Elite Eight only about 35% of the time, so the odds suggest Michigan should have the edge.
Tennessee is still searching for its first Final Four appearance, while Michigan has already won a national championship, back in 1989. This matchup will likely come down to Tennessee’s defensive discipline against Michigan’s offensive efficiency. In the end, we believe Michigan should advance to the Final Four.
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Pick
Michigan Wolverines (-340)
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