Tennessee Basketball Opens As Favorites In Sweet 16 Matchup Against Kentucky

Tennessee basketball opened as 4.5-point favorites against Kentucky in Friday’s Sweet 16 matchup in Indianapolis according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The over/under opened at 145.5. KenPom predicts Tennessee to earn a 76-71 victory and gives the Vols a 65% chance to win.

Here’s a look at the latest up-to-date odds from various sportsbooks:

The Vols are 19-16 against the spread this season and 1-1 in the NCAA Tournament after failing to cover against Wofford and covering against UCLA. The over has hit in 15 Tennessee games this season while the under has hit 20 times.

Kentucky is 18-16 against the spread this season and covered in both of its NCAA Tournament wins over Troy and Illinois in the first week of the NCAA Tournament. The over has hit in 18 Kentucky games this season while the under has hit 16 times.

Tennessee and Kentucky have faced off 241 times before in men’s basketball, but Friday’s matchup will be the first meeting between the two teams in the NCAA Tournament.

It’ll be the third meeting between Tennessee and Kentucky this season with the Wildcats winning the two regular season matchups. Kentucky knocked off Tennessee 78-73 in Knoxville in late January and defeated the Vols’ 75-64 two weeks later in Rupp Arena.

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The three-point shooting variance was a major story in the first meeting. Kentucky combined to shoot 24-of-48 (50%) from the perimeter in the two games while the Vols shot a putrid 14-of-63 (22%) from deep. Top Tennessee shooting guard Chaz Lanier and Jordan Gainey struggled in the two meetings with Lanier averaging 12.5 points and Gainey averaging seven points in the two losses.

Both Lanier and Gainey were strong for Tennessee in the Vols’ opening weekend NCAA Tournament with Lanier averaging 24.5 points and Gainey averaging 10 points.

It’s the first time in program history that Tennessee has made the Sweet 16 three consecutive seasons. The Vols are searching for the first Final Four appearance in program history after losing in the Sweet 16 in 2023 and in the Elite Eight a season ago.

Kentucky is back in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019. The Wildcats turned in two impressive wins in the opening weekend of the tournament, coasting past Troy 76-57 and six-seed Illinois 84-75.

The tipoff time and broadcast details have yet to be set for Tennessee’s matchup against Kentucky. Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider later tonight for the tipoff time and broadcast details.