Tennessee vs. Louisiana Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – NCAA Tournament Round First Round

The No. 4 seed in the East Region bracket, the Tennessee Volunteers (23-10), and the No. 13 seed Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (26-7) play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday at Amway Center, starting at 9:40 PM. Tennessee is an 11-point favorite in the matchup, which airs on CBS. The matchup’s point total is set at 135.5.

Tennessee vs. Louisiana Odds

• Tennessee odds to win: -627
• Louisiana odds to win: +457
• Spread: Tennessee (-11)
• Total: 135.5

Tennessee vs. Louisiana Promo Codes

Game Time and Information

• Date: Thursday, March 16, 2023
• Time: 9:40 PM ET
• TV: CBS
• Where: Orlando, Florida
• Venue: Amway Center

Who Will Win Tennessee vs. Louisiana?

Tennessee and Louisiana Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

Tennessee has a 10-4 record against the spread this season when favored by 11 points or more.

Louisiana is 0-1 against the spread when an underdog by 11 points or greater this season.

These two teams average 149.8 points per game combined, 14.3 more than the over/under of 135.5.

Tennessee and Louisiana have seen their opponents average a combined 7.7 fewer points per game than the over/under of 135.5 set for this matchup.

Tennessee’s average point total in outings this season is 129.8, 5.7 points below the total in this game.

The average over/under for Ragin’ Cajuns games this season is 12.3 more points than the point total of 135.5 in this outing.

The Volunteers are 17-16-0 against the spread this season.

The Ragin’ Cajuns are 16-14-0 against the spread this season.

Tennessee Stats & Insights

Tennessee has a +454 scoring differential, topping opponents by 13.8 points per game. It is putting up 71.8 points per game to rank 181st in college basketball and is giving up 58 per contest to rank third in college basketball.

Tennessee wins the rebound battle by 7.5 boards on average. It records 35.9 rebounds per game, which ranks 12th in college basketball, while its opponents pull down 28.4 per outing.

The Volunteers make 7.8 three-pointers per game (126th in college basketball), two more than their opponents (5.8).

Tennessee ranks 147th in college basketball by averaging 95 points per 100 possessions on offense, and defensively is second in college basketball, allowing 76.8 points per 100 possessions.

The Volunteers are averaging 76.7 points per game this season in home games, which is 9.6 more points than they’re averaging on the road (67.1).

Louisiana Stats & Insights

Louisiana’s +271 scoring differential (outscoring opponents by 8.2 points per game) is a result of putting up 78 points per game (38th in college basketball) while allowing 69.8 per outing (165th in college basketball).

Louisiana ranks 53rd in the country at 34 rebounds per game. That’s six more than the 28 its opponents average.

Louisiana makes 1.2 more threes per contest than the opposition, 7.1 (212th in college basketball) compared to its opponents’ 5.9.

Louisiana averages 100.7 points per 100 possessions on offense (24th in college basketball), and allows 90.1 points per 100 possessions (134th in college basketball).

At home, the Ragin’ Cajuns average 85.6 points per game. Away, they score 72.8.

Tennessee Key Players to Watch

Santiago Vescovi leads the Volunteers in scoring, tallying 12.9 points per game to go with 4.6 rebounds and 3 assists.

Olivier Nkamhoua is Tennessee’s leading rebounder, grabbing five per game, while Zakai Zeigler is its best passer, distributing 5.4 assists in each contest.

The Volunteers get the most three-point shooting production out of Vescovi, who makes 2.8 threes per game.

The Tennessee steals leader is Zeigler, who averages two takeaways per game, while its blocks leader is Jonas Aidoo, who compiles 1.2 rejections per contest.

Louisiana Key Players to Watch

Jordan Brown puts up 19.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game for the Ragin’ Cajuns, enough to make him the leading scorer and rebounder on the team.

Themus Fulks’ assist statline leads Louisiana; he records 5.9 assists per game.

Greg Williams Jr. is reliable from distance and leads the Ragin’ Cajuns with 1.8 made threes per game.

Louisiana’s leader in steals is Williams (1.1 per game), and its leader in blocks is Brown (1.2 per game).

Tennessee vs. Louisiana Prediction

• Pick ATS:

  Tennessee (-11)
  

• Pick OU:

  Over (135.5)
  

• Prediction:
  Tennessee 75, Louisiana 63

How to Bet on Tennessee vs. Louisiana

And for more CBB game previews, NCAA basketball picks or even how to bet on college basketball check out the latest NCAAB lines on Betsperts.