Contrasting styles will be on display when the No. 4-seeded University of Tennessee squares off against No. 13 Louisiana on Thursday night at Amway Center in Orlando.
The Volunteers are one of the stingiest teams in America, allowing just 58 points against per game and coming from the hyper-competitive Southeastern Conference. Tennessee, guided by veteran coach Rick Barnes, has the second-best defensive rating in the country and a competent offense that featured four players averaging double-digit points per game.
The Ragin’ Cajuns, who won the Sun Belt Conference and will enter the tournament on a five-game win streak, average about 78 points per game. They are led by 6-foot-11 senior forward Jordan Brown, who led Louisiana by averaging 19.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.
Here’s a look at Tennessee vs Louisiana best bets.
Tennessee vs Louisiana Odds
Note: CBB odds mentioned in this article for Tennessee vs Louisiana were used from DraftKings Sportsbook, unless otherwise noted, and are current as of 11 a.m. ET on Tuesday, March 14.
- Moneyline: Tennessee (-600) vs Louisiana (+450)
- Spread: Tennessee -11.5 (-110)/Louisiana +11.5 (-110)
- Total: Over 136.5 Points (-110)/Under 136.5 Points (-110)
Tennessee vs Louisiana Best Bet
Keep reading for more Tennessee vs Louisiana betting tips.
Tennessee vs Louisiana Prediction
Tennessee 71, Louisiana 59
The Volunteers may get more of what they want from Louisiana, whose top-two scorers each spent time at Power-5 schools before transferring to UL. But they should be able to get stops when it counts and score enough to pull away late.
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Tennessee vs Louisiana Best Bets
Under 136.5 Points (-110) | DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The Volunteers don’t score much and don’t allow many points, either. That may trip them up down the line, but in a matchup with this much of a talent and experience discrepancy, Tennessee should be able to outsize and out-skill the Ragin’ Cajuns when it matters.
That lends itself to the Under, especially with Louisiana making its first tournament appearance since 2014.
Tennessee vs Louisiana Same Game Parlay
Tennessee vs Louisiana SGP (+185) | DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
- Tennessee -6.5 (-245)
- Tennessee Under 77.5 Points (-200)
- Louisiana Under 64.5 Points (-175)
I loathe wagering spreads and Unders, since it is a tough needle to thread. But teasing the spread down to 6.5, from 11.5, gives us some breathing room even though I think the game will end up lopsided.
The team totals are strategically teased since UT only allowed 54 points per game in the non-conference slate and only gave up 65-plus three times in 13 non-SEC games. The Vols only average about 71 points per game and have only scored 78-plus in three of their past 16 games.
