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The 13th-seeded Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (26-7) face the 4th-seeded Tennessee Volunteers (23-10) Thursday in a 1st Round East Region game in the NCAA Tournament. Tip-off from Amway Center in Orlando is scheduled for approximately 9:40 p.m. ET (CBS). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Louisiana vs. Tennessee odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
The Ragin’ Cajuns used defense to go 3-for-3 in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament with victories over Georgia Southern (67-49), Texas State (64-58) and South Alabama (71-66). They were favored against all 3 games and went 2-1 against the spread (ATS) with an 3-0 Under record. They covered 9.5 points against Georgia Southern and 1.5 points in the title game vs. South Alabama, and they were 7-point favorites in the 6-point win vs. Texas State.
Louisiana lost both of its regular-season games against teams in the NCAA Tournament field, falling 76-64 at Drake in two days after Thanksgiving and losing 100-72 at Texas Dec. 21. The Ragin’ Cajuns were 0-2 ATS in those outings — getting 8.5 points vs. Drake and 18 vs. Texas — while splitting the Over-Under.
Tennessee has the much more impressive resume, although it sputtered down the stretch a bit. The Vols were 5-7 straight-up (SU) across the past 12 games, while going a dismal 4-8 ATS during the span. However, wins over NCAA Tournament teams like No. 1 overall seed Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi State (twice) and USC were more than enough to earn a high seed.
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The Vols were upset by the Missouri Tigers in the SEC quarterfinals, falling 79-71 as 5.5-point favorites. However, Mizzou was seeded 4th, one spot ahead of 5th-seeded Tennessee.
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Louisiana vs. Tennessee odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:05 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Louisiana +400 (bet $100 to win $400) | Tennessee -600 (bet $600 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Louisiana +10.5 (-112) | Tennessee -10.5 (-108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 135.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
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Louisiana vs. Tennessee picks and predictions
Prediction
Tennessee 74, Louisiana 60
Moneyline
Tennessee (-600) will cost 6 times your potential return, and that’s just way too expensive for a singular wager. Even including the Vols as part of a multi-team parlay would absorb all of the value out of your ticket.
AVOID.
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Against the spread
TENNESSEE -10.5 (-108) is the lean. Louisiana failed to win or cover in a pair of games during the regular season against NCAA Tournament-bound teams.
ULL is going to have a very, very difficult time against a Tennessee defense that ranks 3rd in the country by allowing just 58.0 points per game. That stingy defense limited teams to a 36.9% field-goal percentage (ranks 2nd behind Houston’s 36.4%) and a nation’s best 26.2% defensive 3-point percentage.
Tennessee comes with some risk as it is just 1-6 ATS in the past 7 NCAA Tournament games. However, more importantly, in more recent times, the Vols are 14-6-1 ATS in the past 21 games following a straight-up loss, and 19-9 ATS in the past 28 after a non-cover.
Over/Under
UNDER 135.5 (-108) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at best.
The Under has cashed in 4 straight games for Louisiana, and is also 4-0 in the Cajuns’ past 4 NCAA Tournament appearances. In addition, the Under is 4-1 in their previous 5 neutral-site contests. That should continue against Tennessee’s stout defense.
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