#3 Kentucky vs #2 Tennessee NCAAB Pick: An SEC Clash in the Sweet 16 (Mar 28)

• Kentucky pulled away from Illinois late, winning 84-75 in the second round.
• Tennessee defeated UCLA in a very low-scoring bout, dispatching them 67-58.
• These two teams last met on February 11, in a game that Kentucky won 75-64.

Kentucky and Tennessee face off in a key Sweet 16 matchup. With a trip to the Elite 8 on the line, both teams will be put to the test. Expect this to be close and come down to the wire.

Kentucky Faces Rivalry Clash

Kentucky continues to fly under the radar as a 3-seed with Final Four potential. They easily handled a scorching-hot Illinois team in the second round, earning them this Sweet 16 game against rival Tennessee. The Wildcats got the best of the Volunteers in the regular season, defeating them twice. They will aim to use what they learned to complete the season sweep.

Tennessee Clamping Down on Defense

Tennessee’s incredible defense was on full display against UCLA in the second round. Ranking third in the nation, behind only Houston and St. John’s, their defense has been their greatest asset. On the other hand, the Volunteers rank 17th offensively, creating an area of vulnerability. To avenge their losses against Kentucky, the offense, led by Chaz Lanier, needs to be at its best.

Kentucky Wildcats vs Tennessee Volunteers Pick

Kentucky won at home and on the road against Tennessee in the regular season. Reasonably speaking, they should be able to defeat the Volunteers on a neutral court as well. However, it likely won’t be that simple. This game should be extremely close and come down to the wire. Ultimately, I trust Kentucky’s offense a bit more to make clutch shots when it matters most.