Tennessee vs. Louisiana: 2023 NCAA Tournament Best Bets & Picks
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
- Tennessee Spread: -9.5
- Louisiana Spread: +9.5
- Tennessee Moneyline: -540
- Louisiana Moneyline: +420
- Game Over/Under: 136
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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.
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.
Tennessee vs. Louisiana 2023 NCAA Tournament Predictions
I don't want to bury the lead here, reminding everyone that Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee's leading guy, will be out for this tournament. That puts a cap on their tournament hopes, despite entering as a four-seed. The Volunteers’ defense is elite, ranking second in adjusted efficiency. Louisiana's preference for the interior shot will be difficult for the Rajun Cajuns, as Tennessee crushed the neutral court games this year, with teams seeming to struggle how to figure out their offense.
Without Zeigler, one of the leading facilitators in Division I basketball, Tennessee's offense will take a hit. Louisiana does rebound the ball at a high clip and will be in for a fight against Tennessee's fifth-ranked offensive rebound rate. All-in-all, the Ragin' Cajuns will be in for a tough matchup against Tennessee to start, and I still see the Volunteers struggling to find their groove without Zeigler. Both teams are capable of first-half adjustments, but in the first half, I can't imagine many points being scored.
Tennessee vs. Louisiana 2023 NCAA Tournament Picks
Under 1H
More Round 1 & First Four Betting Picks & Predictions
South
- #16 Texas A&M-CC vs. #16 Southeast Missouri St. (First Four)
- #8 Maryland vs. #9 West Virginia
- #5 San Diego St. vs. #12 Charleston
- #4 Virginia vs. #13 Furman
- #6 Creighton vs. #11 NC State
- #3 Baylor vs. #14 UC Santa Barbara
- #7 Missouri vs. #10 Utah State
- #2 Arizona vs. #15 Princeton
East
- #8 Memphis vs. #9 Florida Atlantic
- #5 Duke vs. #12 Oral Roberts
- #4 Tennessee vs. #13 Louisiana
- #6 Kentucky vs. #11 Providence
- #3 Kansas State vs. #14 Montana State
- #7 Michigan State vs. #10 USC
- #2 Marquette vs. #15 Vermont
West
- #1 Kansas vs. #16 Howard
- #8 Arkansas vs. #9 Illinois
- #5 Saint Mary’s vs. #12 VCU
- #4 UConn vs. #13 Iona
- #11 Arizona State vs. #11 Nevada (First Four)
- #3 Gonzaga vs. #14 Grand Canyon
- #7 Northwestern vs. #10 Boise State
- #2 UCLA vs. #15 UNC Asheville
Midwest
- #1 Houston vs. #16 Northern Kentucky
- #8 Iowa vs. #9 Auburn
- #5 Miami vs. #12 Drake
- #4 Indiana vs. #13 Kent State
- #11 Mississippi State vs. #11 Pitt (First Four)
- #3 Xavier vs. #14 Kennesaw State
- #7 Texas A&M vs. #10 Penn State
- #2 Texas vs. #15 Colgate
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