The Tennessee Volunteers men’s basketball team is March Madness bound!
After a whirlwind win against Kentucky, followed by a history-making victory against Texas A&M, the No. 2-seeded Tennessee became SEC Conference champions for the first time since 1979.
Now, the Vols hope to make history once again by logging a debut Final Four appearance and claiming their very first NCAA National Championship title. A handful of opponents stand in the way of that, though.
Let’s take a look at the first team they’ll encounter and see what bettors have to say about Tennessee’s chances.
Tennessee vs. Longwood betting odds
As the new SEC champs, the Volunteers received an automatic March Madness bid this year, accompanied by a No. 3 seed in the South. As a result, Tennessee (26-7) enters the bracket madness this Thursday against No. 14 Longwood (26-6).
Coming into the matchup, college basketball betting odds favor the Vols at .
The spread puts them ahead by a lengthy points, and oddsmakers have the over/under set at points.
Volunteers & Lancers: notable players
Longwood won the Big South Conference championship last week, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.
Senior Lancers guard Isaiah Wilkins claimed the Big South Tournament MVP award after logging 19 points and eight rebounds during the game. Sophomore guard Justin Hill has also been a consistent force this season, averaging 14.2 points per game.
Nevertheless, Tennessee looks to halt Longwood’s eight-game winning streak with three unstoppable forces of its own.
Freshman guard Kennedy Chandler’s average 13.8 points per game have made him a potential first-round NBA Draft pick. Additionally, he was named SEC Tournament MVP, second team All-SEC, and Freshman All-SEC.
Junior guard Santiago Vescovi follows close behind with 13.4 points per game, finding his way to first team All-SEC.
And last but certainly not least, junior Josiah-Jordan James leads the team in blocked shots and rebounds. Due in large part to his defensive talents, the Vols give away an average of only 62.8 points per game.
If — or should I say when — Tennessee emerges victorious from this first tournament matchup, they’ll advance to play either No. 6 Colorado State or No. 11 Michigan.
Tip-off for Thursday’s game is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. ET and can be streamed live on CBS.
The second round of competition gears up this weekend, with madness then kicking into high gear next week as the Sweet 16 gets underway:
- First Four: March 15-16
- First Round: March 17-18
- Second Round: March 19-20
- Sweet 16: March 24-25
- Elite Eight: March 26-27
- Final Four: April 2
- NCAA Championship Game: April 4
Tennessee March Madness futures betting odds
Will this be the year the Vols finally make good on their lifelong goal of becoming national champions?
According to recent FanDuel Sportsbook stats, it’s looking more and more likely. Or that’s what customers seem to think, at least.
U.S. bettors have wagered more money and placed more wagers on Tennessee making it to the Final Four than on any other team. The Vols also remain the third-most popular team to win the outright tournament.
After the team’s conference win last weekend, Tennessee now holds odds of reaching the Final Four.
The current likelihood of the Vols winning the National Championship sits at odds.
