Saint Peter’s (15) vs. Tennessee (2) Bracket Prediction: March Madness Odds
It’s Midwest Region First Round action on Thursday night at Spectrum Center in Charlotte. The Peacocks’ tournament success snapped a two-game slide and leaves them riding a three-game win streak going into their second NCAA Tournament appearance in three years. The Volunteers closed out their schedule as SEC regular-season champions but made a speedy exit from the SEC Tournament with a crushing 73-56 loss to Mississippi State, and will be looking to avoid losing three in a row for the first time since November.
The Volunteers enter Thursday’s action as heavy 21.5-point favourites on the First Round odds. The Peacocks are pegged as distant +1400 longshots on the March madness moneyline and the total is listed at 130.5.
Saint Peter’s vs. Tennessee NCAA Tournament Point Spread and Betting
The Peacocks enjoyed an unexpected run to the Elite Eight in their lasttrip to the Big Dance in 2022, when they were also pegged as a 15-seed. Saint Peter’s claimed a share of third place in the MAAC with a 12-8 conference record despite ranking a distant 306th in adjusted offensive efficiency this season according to Kenpom. But their steady defence was on display while allowing just 57 points per game and claiming victory by a combined margin of just nine points in their three conference tourney wins.
The Volunteers allowed just 67.9 points per game this season, and have seen the UNDER pay out in six of seven games. However, they have struggled while surrendering 79 points per game during their current two-game slide, and have been a March Madness betting disappointment covering the spread in just two of their past 10 NCAA Tournament contests.
Saint Peter’s Peacocks
Sophomore Corey Washington was the difference maker in the Peacock’s berth-clinching 68-63 win over Fairfield last weekend, scoring a team-high 24 points and nine rebounds. Washington led Saint Peter’s with 16.5 points and 6.6 boards per game this season and has averaged 19.5 points and posted two double-doubles over his past 10 games.
Tennessee Volunteers
The Vols may have closed out their regular season on a losing note, but that certainly wasn’t due to lack of effort from leading scorer Dalton Knecht, who scored 40 points including six threes in an 85-81 loss to Kentucky on March 9 after dropping 39 points 10 days earlier in a 92-84 win over Auburn. However, Knecht has been prone to accuracy concerns. The senior converted just 23.5% from the field in Tennessee’s 73-56 loss to the Bulldogs in the SEC Tournament and under 40% in three of the past four games.
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