Tennessee basketball opened as 4.5-point underdogs against Iowa State in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament according to the DKSportsbook. The over/under is set at 138.5. KenPom predicts Iowa State to earn a 71-67 victory. Bart Torvik predicts Iowa State to earn a 70-68 victory.
The Vols are 15-19 against this spread this season after covering as favorites in both of their games the opening weekend of the tournament. Iowa State is 21-14 against the spread this season after covering in both of its first round matchups.
The Vols are back in the Sweet 16 for a fourth straight season after knocking off Miami (Ohio) and Virginia this past weekend in Philadelphia.
Six-seed Tennessee knocked off the Cavaliers on Sunday night in Philadelphia thanks to one of its most complete performances of the season. Ja’Kobi Gillespie scored a team-high 22 points but the Vols got contributions from up-and-down their roster.
Nate Ament totaled 16 points while Bishop Boswell went for 13 points and nine assists with no turnovers. Tennessee got front court production that it needed as Felix Okpara, JP Estrella and Jaylen Carey combined for 27 points.
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Two-seed Iowa State is back in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2024 after using a massive second half to rout Kentucky 82-63 in the Round of 32 on Sunday afternoon. The Cyclones took care of business in their first game, knocking off Tennessee State 108-74.
However, star Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson suffered a right leg injury in the win over Tennessee State and missed the Round of 32 matchup against Kentucky. Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger said Sunday that Jefferson would undergo an MRI on Monday when the team gets back to Ames.
Tennessee has played Iowa State just three times in program history, owning a 2-1 record. The Vols won in Ames in the lone meeting during Rick Barnes’ tenure.
Tipoff between Tennessee and Iowa State is at 10:10 p.m. ET on Friday night in Chicago. Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas and Evan Washburn are on the call for both TBS and TruTv. It’s the second of two games in Chicago with Michigan and Alabama facing off at 7:35 p.m. ET.
More to follow: Tennessee sports betting apps
