Second place in the SEC meets sixth place in the Big Ten when Tennessee takes on Iowa in an NCAA tournament South regional second-round bout Sunday afternoon in Columbus (12:10 pm ET, CBS). The Volunteers are favored by over a touchdown for this game, but Iowa already owns one upset in this Dance. Who do we like for our free NCAA tournament pick?
The Line
NCAA tournament betting odds opened Tennessee at -8 over Iowa, with an over/under of 155.5. Both figures were holding steady in early betting action.
Bettors thinking the Hawkeyes might pull another upset here could get upwards of +320 on the college basketball betting money line.
Hawkeyes-Volunteers Betting Preview
No. 10 seed Iowa (23-11 SU, 14-20 ATS) reached Sunday’s action by coming from behind to beat No. 7 seed Cincinnati Friday 79-72. The Hawkeyes trailed the Bearcats by 13 points early and by five at the half, but later ended the game with a 24-13 run for the outright win as five-point dogs on the college basketball betting line.
Despite a slow start Iowa ended up shooting 55 percent from the floor Friday and hit 11-for-22 from 3-point range, although it also turned the ball over 14 times.
Even with Friday’s victory/cover the Hawkeyes are only 2-5 both SU and ATS over their last seven games.
No. 2 seed Tennessee (30-5 SU, 17-16 ATS) reached Sunday’s play by holding off No. 15 seed Colgate Friday 77-70. The Volunteers led the Raiders by 16 points late in the first half, fell down by a bucket midway through the second half but rallied and held on for the win.
However, Tennessee also came up way short of covering the spread as a 17-point favorite.
On the day the Vols shot 47 percent from the field and won the turnover battle 13-8.
Tennessee is now 6-2 SU, 4-4 ATS over its last eight games.
NCAA Tournament Betting Trends
- With Friday’s victory/cover Iowa is now 5-9 both SU and ATS this season against teams that made the NCAA tournament. The Hawkeyes are also 8-8 ATS this season as underdogs.
- Also, the Big Ten went 7-1 SU, 5-3 ATS in the first round of this NCAA tournament.
- With Friday’s win/non-cover the Vols are now 10-5 SU, 8-7 ATS against teams that made the Big Dance this season. Tennessee is also 8-5 ATS this season when favored by single digits.
- The SEC went 5-2 SU but 2-5 ATS in the first round of this tournament.
Hawkeyes-Vols Tournament History
These programs met most recently back in the 2014 NCAA tournament, a 78-65 Tennessee victory in overtime. But the outcome of that game has no bearing on our pick for this game.
Totals Report
The totals are split 17-17 in Iowa games this season, which are averaging 152 total points.
The overs are 20-14 in Tennessee games this season, which are averaging 151 points.
- Get more details: Tennessee vs Iowa NCAAB Match-up
