A spot in the Final Four is on the line as top-seeded Michigan takes on six-seeded Tennessee. This game will take place at 2:15 p.m. ET at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Michigan is a 7.5-point favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set to 146.5. The Volunteers are +270 to pull off the upset. Below, I’ve broken down my favorite prop bets for this big matchup.
Best Michigan vs. Tennessee player props
Nate Ament 23+ Points + Rebounds (-125)
Tennessee’s freshman forward Nate Ament has been a superstar all season. He is averaging 17 points per game and is the team’s leading rebounder. Ament has been pivotal in Tennessee’s upset wins over Virginia and Iowa State over the past week. If the Volunteers are to take down Michigan, Ament will need to be at his very best. Ament scored 18 points on Friday night against Iowa State and scored 16 points against Virginia in the Round of 32. If Michigan is allowed to dictate the pace, this will be an up-tempo game with plenty of field goal attempts for both teams. That should give Ament plenty of scoring chances and rebound opportunities.
Tennessee is one of the best rebounding teams in the country. Tennessee ranks fourth in the nation in rebounds per game, averaging 42 team rebounds every time out. Ament is the team’s best rebounder, and his size and length will be needed to crash the boards against Michigan, which is also a great rebounding team. Ament had some of his best performances of the season in non-conference play, like when he had 20 points and nine boards against Kansas in addition to his Round of 32 and Sweet 16 performances in this tournament. I’ll back Ament to keep the momentum going and be the do-it-all guy for Tennessee against Michigan.
Yaxel Lendeborg 8+ Rebounds (-115)
Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg is one of the essential pieces on this well-rounded team. Lendeborg is the team’s leading scorer, but he also grabs seven boards per game. The senior played one of the best games of his life in the Sweet 16 against Alabama. He led the Wolverines in points, rebounds and assists with a final stat line of 23 points, seven dimes and 12 boards. Lendeborg was playing like a man who was not going to let his team lose. He should bring that same attitude to this massive Elite Eight game against Tennessee. Lendeborg spent the past two seasons at UAB, but transferred to Michigan to win a national championship.
Just like Tennessee, Michigan is a great rebounding team. The Wolverines ranked second in the Big Ten in rebounding with over 40 boards per game. Lendeborg was a huge part of that team rebounding effort. However, in the Alabama game, he showed what he can do when he wants to take a game over. He just seems to show up on big occasions. He grabbed 12 rebounds against Gonzaga in the Players Era Festival championship game, he had 12 rebounds on the road against Michigan State and then had 12 rebounds in the Sweet 16. Lendeborg should rise to the occasion once again and grab at least eight boards in this game with a Final Four trip on the line.
