Tennessee basketball opened as 2.5-point underdogs against Purdue in Sunday afternoon’s Elite Eight matchup, according to Draft Kings. The over/under is set at 148.
It’s a meeting between two strong programs looking to get over the hump. Tennessee is searching for its first Final Four in program history while Purdue is searching for its first Final Four since 1980. Analytical based college basketball website KenPom projects Purdue to earn an 76-73 victory over the Vols.
| TN Sportsbook | Bonus Offer | Bonus Link |
|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | Bet $5, Get $158 in bonus bets | Claim Bonus — Use Code ROCKYBET |
| FanDuel | Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets Guaranteed | Claim Bonus |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Get a first bet on Caesars of up to $1,000 | Claim Bonus — Use Code STARTGET |
Tennessee advanced to the Elite Eight for the second time in program history by knocking off three-seed Creighton 82-75 on Friday night in Detroit.
More From RTI: Inside The 18-0 Run That Propelled Tennessee To The Final Four
Rick Barnes’ ninth Tennessee team got contributions from up-and-down their roster against the Blue Jays with 10 different Vols playing in a game that Santiago Vescovi missed due to illness. Jahmai Mashack was elite in his role, playing stout defense and grabbing eight rebounds.
Jordan Gainey hit big shots off the bench and Tobe Awaka’s physicality was integral for Tennessee down the stretch. Then Dalton Knecht, Josiah-Jordan James and Zakai Zeigler played like stars. The trio combined for 59 points (nine-of-18 3PT%), 18 rebounds and 13 assists in the win.
Purdue is in the Elite Eight after knocking off Gonzaga 80-68 on Friday night. The No. 1-seed Boilermakers used a big second half to advance thanks to Zach Edey’s 27-point, 14-rebound performances and Braden Smith’s 14 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds.
The Vols and Purdue have had plenty of battles in recent years including an overtime thriller in the 2019 Sweet 16. Purdue also knocked off Tennessee 71-67 in the Maui Invitational back in November.
Tipoff between Tennessee and the Boilermakers is at 2:20 p.m. ET on Easter Sunday in Detroit. CBS is broadcasting the game.
