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Tennessee vs. Louisiana: 2023 NCAA Tournament Odds, Preview & Predictions

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March Madness is officially here! The 2023 NCAA Tournament Bracket has been announced, and the teams are lining up for the Big Dance. Let’s take a look at the early odds, preview, and predictions for the 2023 NCAA Tournament Round 1 game: Tennessee vs. Louisiana.

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2023 March Madness Odds, Preview & Predictions: Tennessee vs. Louisiana

Tennessee vs. Louisiana Odds, Spread & Match Up Overview

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Tennessee 2023 NCAA Tournament Betting Preview

There isn’t a highly seeded tournament team that has had its stock drop more in the last few months than Tennessee. Losses to Florida, Vanderbilt and Missouri have shaken the confidence of those who saw Tennessee as a title-contending team. Now with Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee’s highest-usage player, out for the season with a torn ACL, Rick Barnes and Co. find their ceiling capped.

But let’s focus on a positive. The Volunteers have arguably the best defense in the nation, ranking top five in adjusted defensive efficiency. They allow nothing inside, and opponents shoot below 26 percent from beyond the arc against them. (The national average is 34 percent. )This is an incredibly difficult team to prepare for, and we saw that early in the year. Tennessee went 4-0 in neutral-court games against Butler, USC, Kansas and Maryland. That’s three tournament teams, and Tennessee’s win over the Jayhawks was by double-digits. In conference, teams are going to be better able to prepare, and two of Tennessee’s losses came on buzzer beaters.

A lot of people seem down on Tennessee, but this might be a good time to zig while everyone else is zagging. As I said, the Volunteers’ ceiling is capped. And while their offensive rebounding is solid, their offense still ranks outside the top 40 in D1. We have seen this team fail to reach 50 points before. Rick Barnes also seems to be cursed, having failed to reach the Sweet 16 in nine of his last 10 tournament appearances — and with some pretty good teams, too. Don’t be surprised by an early exit from the Volunteers.

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Louisiana 2023 NCAA Tournament Betting Preview

The Ragin’ Cajuns made their way into the NCAA Tournament by winning the Sun Belt tourney. After dropping three straight games at the end of December, Louisiana-Lafayette has lost only three games in 2023, all on the road.

Bob Marlin leads an effective offense that shoots well from beyond the arc but can take it inside as well with top-100 2pt% shooting. Jordan Brown is a 6-11 center who is an incredible rim protector and rebounder, with the ability to kick it out to shooters Greg Williams and Kentrell Garnett. Louisiana-Lafayette’s defense isn’t the best, particularly when it comes to defending the perimeter, but the Ragin’ Cajuns don’t have any glaring weaknesses. Bob Marlin has coached in the NCAA Tournament before, and with Louisiana’Lafayette’s ability to rebound and get to the hoop, this will be a difficult team to stop.

Facing an interior-based defense wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world for the Cajuns, as leaning on their high-percentage perimeter shooting is something they’ve done in the past. If their opponent can’t shoot from deep, they will be poised for a potential upset.

Round 1 & First Four Betting Picks & Predictions

South

East

West

Midwest

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