Longwood vs. Tennessee Bracket Prediction: March Madness Odds
The Longwood Lancers make their March Madness debut when they take on the third-seeded Tennessee Volunteers in First Round action. The Lancers ride an eight-game win streak, capped by a decisive 79-58 win over Winthrop in the Big South Tournament final. The Vols are coming off a 65-50 win over Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament final to extend their current win streak to seven games, and aim to atone for their early exit from March Madness a year ago.
The Volunteers have held steady since opening as lofty 17-point favourites, and are backed by a 60% majority of sports bettors. The Lancers lag as distant +869 underdogs, while the total has held steady at 132.0.
Longwood vs. Tennessee NCAA Tournament Point Spread and Betting
Thursday afternoon’s matchup at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis is set for 2:45pm ET, and marks the first ever meeting between these squads.
The Volunteers look to rebound after falling 70-56 to Oregon State as a No. 5 seed in the opening round of March Madness a year ago. Straight up winners in 15 of 17, the Vols have posted victories in four of five dates with nationally ranked opponents over that stretch, capped by a 69-62 victory over No. 5 Kentucky in the SEC Tournament semi-final. Tennessee’s ferocious defence has limited opponents to just 61.8 points per game over their past nine outings, lifting the squad to third in adjusted defensive efficiency and seventh overall in the Kenpom ratings.
The Lancers have been equally stingy down the stretch, limiting opponents to 70 or fewer points in each of their past five contests. Longwood is also ranked 50th in the nation with 76.3 points scored per game, and has topped that number three times during a 4-0 against the spread run. However, this team has struggled both as big underdogs and against top flight opponents. The Lancers have covered just four times during a 0-12 run as double-digit underdogs, and have lost by an average margin of 41.7 points in seven previous dates with nationally ranked opponents.
Longwood Lancers (3)
The Lancers strengthened their Cinderella credentials with an epic comeback in a Big South Tournament semi-final win over South Carolina Upstate, and punched their ticket to the Big Dance with their crushing victory over Winthrop in the final. Distributed scoring was key to the win over the Eagles, with every player in the lineup tallying at least five points. And while Justin Hill leads the team in scoring, it has been senior guard Isaiah Wilkins who has stepped up down the stretch, averaging 16.1 points and tallying a pair of double-doubles during the team’s 8-0 run.
Tennessee Volunteers (14)
If their performance during the SEC Tournament is any indication, the Volunteers are well positioned to make their longest ever run at this year’s NCAA Tournament. Tennessee flexed its considerable defensive muscle while limiting the Aggies and Wildcats to a combined 42 first-half points in their two most recent wins. The Vols’ leading scorer Kennedy Chandler has racked up 15 points per game over his past five outings, and the freshman guard will be aiming to boost his NBA Draft stock with a steady performance at the Big Dance.
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