March Madness continues on Friday, with four marquee Sweet 16 matchups set to tip off. In the Midwest region, #2 Tennessee will take on #3 Kentucky. These two SEC foes have met twice this season, with the Wildcats winning both contests. Can the Volunteers get revenge and punch their ticket to the Elite 8?
Tennessee enters this contest as 3.5-point favorites, with the over/under set at 144.5 points. Below is my college basketball pick on DraftKings Sportsbook for Friday’s March Madness showdown.
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#2 Tennessee vs. #3 Kentucky (7:40 PM EST)
This is truly a battle between polar opposites. Tennessee is at its best when games are ugly, low-scoring affairs. This season, the Volunteers rank third in adjusted defensive efficiency per KenPom. However, the team often struggles to score, averaging only 74.6 points per game (153rd in the nation). Most of the offensive burden lies with SEC assists leader Zakai Zeigler and sharpshooter Chaz Lanier.
On the other side, Kentucky plays a high-octane brand of basketball. Under new head coach Mark Pope, the Wildcats have scored 85.0 points per game (sixth in the nation). This is a balanced offense, led by Otega Oweh (16.3 PPG) and Koby Brea (11.8 PPG). A total of six different UK players are currently putting up more than ten points per game. However, the team only ranks 45th in adjusted defensive efficiency on KenPom.
It’s tempting to back the Wildcats for yet another victory over their conference rivals. After all, we’ve seen throughout the history of March Madness that elite offense usually triumphs over elite defense. Still, it’s difficult to imagine a third win over one of the nation’s best teams. In addition, assist leader Lamont Butler has been hampered in this tournament by a shoulder injury. If anyone has experience defending Pope’s offensive scheme, it’s the disciplined and experienced Volunteers. Expect Tennessee to make a big statement in this scintillating SEC showdown.
College Basketball Pick: Tennessee -3.5 (1 Unit)
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