Download App
A first-round NCAA Tournament matchup will see the 13th-seeded Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (26-7) play against the No. 4 seed Tennessee Volunteers (23-10) on Thursday at Amway Center. The contest tips off at 9:40 PM.
Thursday’s matchup between the Volunteers and the Ragin’ Cajuns sees the Volunteers as a double-digit favorite by 11 points. The matchup has a point total of 135.5.
Tennessee vs. Louisiana Odds
Point Spread for Tennessee vs. Louisiana
The spread for this matchup is set at 11 points, with oddsmakers listing Tennessee as the favorite.
Tennessee vs. Louisiana Moneyline
As for the moneyline, Tennessee has -627 odds to pick up the win, while Louisiana is listed at +457 to claim victory.
Over/Under
Finally, the total for the game is set at 135.5 points.
Game Time and How to Watch
- Game Day: Thursday, March 16, 2023
- Game Time: 9:40 PM ET
- TV Channel: CBS
- Location: Orlando, Florida
- Arena: Amway Center
Tennessee vs. Louisiana Betting Trends
Against the spread, Tennessee is 17-16-0 this year. The Volunteers have been victorious in 19, or 73.1%, of the 26 contests they have been chosen as favorites in this season. Tennessee has gone over the point total in 46.7% of its opportunities this year (14 times over 30 games with a set point total).
In Louisiana’s 30 games this year, it has 16 wins against the spread. The Ragin’ Cajuns are 1-5 in games they were listed as the moneyline underdog (winning 16.7% of those games). Louisiana’s games this season have eclipsed the over/under 56.7% of the time (17 out of 30 games with a set point total).
Tennessee vs. Louisiana Key Players to Watch
Tennessee
Santiago Vescovi averages a team-best 12.9 points per game. He is also putting up 4.6 rebounds and 3 assists, shooting 40.3% from the floor and 36.6% from downtown with 2.8 made 3-pointers per game. Zakai Zeigler paces the Volunteers at 5.4 assists per contest, while also averaging 2.7 rebounds and 10.7 points. Olivier Nkamhoua puts up a team-best 5 rebounds per contest. He is also posting 10.6 points and 2 assists, shooting 51.4% from the floor. Julian Phillips is tops on his team in rebounds per contest (5), and also puts up 9 points and 1.5 assists. At the other end, he posts 0.6 steals and 0.6 blocked shots.
Louisiana
Jordan Brown is the Ragin’ Cajuns’ top scorer (19.4 points per game) and rebounder (8.7), and posts 1.8 assists. Terence Lewis II gets the Ragin’ Cajuns 11 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1 assists per game. He also puts up 0.8 steals and 0.2 blocked shots. Greg Williams Jr. gets the Ragin’ Cajuns 13.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. He also delivers 1.1 steals and 0.5 blocked shots. Themus Fulks is posting a team-leading 5.9 assists per contest. And he is producing 9.4 points and 2.9 rebounds, making 43.9% of his shots from the field.
What you need to know about the Tennessee Volunteers
The Volunteers have been carried by their defense, as they rank third-best in the country by surrendering just 58 points per game. They rank 180th in college basketball in points scored (71.8 per contest). Tennessee is allowing 28.4 rebounds per game this season (35th-ranked in college basketball), but it has thrived by pulling down 35.9 rebounds per contest (12th-best).
Tennessee is draining 7.8 three-pointers per game (126th-ranked in college basketball) this year, while putting up a 32.9% three-point percentage (251st-ranked). When it comes to defending three-pointers, it’s been a dominant stretch for the Volunteers, who are ceding 5.8 threes per game (24th-best in college basketball) and a 26.2% shooting percentage from three-point land (best).
The Volunteers have a 4-6 record against the spread while finishing 4-6 overall in their last 10 contests. In its past 10 games, Tennessee has gone over the total five times. On the offensive side of the ball, Tennessee has had a tough time putting the ball in the basket over its last 10 games, scoring 70.6 points per contest over that stretch compared to the 71.8 it has put up over the course of this season. Tennessee has been less stingy on the defensive side of the ball lately, allowing 66 points per game during its past 10 outings compared to the 58 points per game its opponents average over the 2022-23 season.
What you need to know about the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns
The Ragin’ Cajuns are 38th in college basketball in points scored (78 per game) and 165th in points conceded (69.8). With 34 rebounds per game and 28 rebounds allowed, Louisiana is 53rd and 27th in the country, respectively.
In 2022-23 Louisiana is 211th in the country in 3-point makes (7.1 per game) and 20th-best in 3-point percentage (37.8%). The Ragin’ Cajuns give up 5.9 3-pointers per game and concede 33.9% from beyond the arc, ranking 30th and 190th, respectively, in college basketball.
The Ragin’ Cajuns are 5-5 against the spread and 7-3 overall in their last 10 games. Louisiana has gone over the total in four of its last 10 outings. Louisiana is posting 72.6 points per contest in its last 10 games, which is 5.4 fewer points than its average for the season (78). In their previous 10 games, the Ragin’ Cajuns are surrendering 68.1 points per contest, 1.7 fewer points than their season average (69.8).
Tennessee vs. Louisiana Prediction & Pick
Our prediction to win this game is Tennessee, and we project that Tennessee will cover the spread (Tennessee -11). Finally, we see the scoring in this one going over the posted total of 135.5 points.
How to bet Tennessee vs. Louisiana
You can bet on Tennessee vs. Louisiana at every legal online sportsbook. For more college basketball odds, including moneylines, spreads, over/under totals, check out the latest NCAA lines as well as our guide to the best college basketball betting sites.
And if you wanted to check out how much you could win on a $10 bet if you parlayed today’s Tennessee vs. Louisiana picks, don’t forget to check out our free parlay calculator.
Not sure what a parlay is? Or even how to bet on college basketball? Check out our complete guide to sports betting.