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March Madness 2022: NCAA Tournament Round of 64 rooting guide for Tennessee Vols fans

By Caleb Calhoun

Nov 9, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers mascot Smokey entertains the crowd during the second half against the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 9, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers mascot Smokey entertains the crowd during the second half against the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 22, 2022; Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA; Colorado State Rams head coach Niko Medved talks with guard Chandler Jacobs (13) and guard Isaiah Stevens (4) and forward Dischon Thomas (11) and guard Kendle Moore (3) and guard David Roddy (21) in the second half against the Air Force Falcons at Clune Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 22, 2022; Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA; Colorado State Rams head coach Niko Medved talks with guard Chandler Jacobs (13) and guard Isaiah Stevens (4) and forward Dischon Thomas (11) and guard Kendle Moore (3) and guard David Roddy (21) in the second half against the Air Force Falcons at Clune Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Colorado State Rams (6-seed) over Michigan Wolverines (11-seed)

Thursday, March 17 at 12:15 p.m. ET; Gainbridge Fieldhouse; Indianapolis, Ind.; CBS

Yes, timing of games matters. Since the Vols, if they beat Longwood in the Round of 64, would face the winner between the Colorado State Rams and the Michigan Wolverines on Saturday, you would think this game is of greater importance to them. However, honestly, it shouldn’t matter either way if you break everything down.

At the risk of sounding like on overconfident Tennessee blogger, it’s impossible to see the Vols losing to either of these teams. Michigan is 17-14 and doesn’t deserve to be playing in March Madness, but they are still favored over Colorado State.

There’s one stat that you can use to gauge who is a tough matchup for the Vols, and it’s the KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency stat. Six of their seven losses came to the top 29 teams in that stat, and the seventh came at the Alabama Crimson Tide when they were without both Kennedy Chandler and John Fulkerson.

Simply put, defensive efficiency is how you can beat the Vols. Colorado State is ranked No. 85 in that, and Michigan is ranked No. 90. Both are well outside the range necessary to beat Rocky Top, and it’s hard enough to know who’s better that this game is irrelevant.

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