Tennessee has another opportunity to reach its first-ever Final Four after knocking off the Iowa State Cyclones in the Sweet 16. This time, the Vols will face the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region, the Michigan Wolverines, in what will likely be a 12-round heavyweight bout.
Michigan is one of the best teams in the nation, boasting an impressive 34-3 record this year and winning the Big Ten regular-season title. Based on the Vegas odds, Tennessee is a clear underdog against the Wolverines, but an upset isn't impossible. It will take Tennessee's best game to knock off Dusty May on Sunday afternoon.
No. 6 Tennessee vs. No.1 Michigan final odds, spread, and total
odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Spread
- Tennessee: +7.5 (-104)
- Michigan: -7.5 (-118)
Moneyline
- Tennessee: +270
- Michigan: -345
Total
- O/U: 146.5 (-110)
Prediction for Tennessee vs. Michigan
This game is a battle of two gritty teams, but one team isn't only gritty but also very skilled, and that's Michigan. The Wolverines have three very good players in their frontcourt with Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara, and Morez Johnson. Tennessee's bigs will have to do whatever they can to contain these forwards and limit rebounds and interior buckets.
Tennessee’s biggest advantage right now is its depth in the frontcourt, and they need to lean into it. With four capable big men, there’s no reason not to play physical and make Michigan feel it on every possession. That doesn’t mean being reckless or putting yourself in foul trouble early, but it does mean being aggressive by challenging shots, fighting for every rebound, and setting the tone inside.
Digging deeper, given that Michigan is a much more talented offensive team than Tennesse, in a low-possession grind-it-out type of game, I like the Vols' chances. Not to say that they would automatically win, but it's a better chance for them to compete than in a track meet. Rick Barnes will have to slow the game down and let the off-ball motion offense run.
Tennessee needs Nate Ament and Ja'Kobi Gillespie to show up, and the Vols likely need an efficient 20 points from both players. If they can get that and have it be a 60-65 possession-type game, Tennessee has a real shot. That being said, that scenario probably doesn't happen often, and I think Michigan is just a little bit too good for the Vols.
Final Score: Michigan 79, Tennessee 72