The Line – Last Updated on November 30, 2022 9:17 am
Free NCAA Hoops Pick: Volunteers vs. Wolverines CBB Odds
Looking for Tennessee Volunteers vs. Michigan Wolverines NCAA basketball free picks & CBB odds? CBB betting sees the Volunteers taking on the Wolverines on Saturday, March 19, 2022 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all college basketball matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily NCAA basketball predictions like this Volunteers- Wolverines matchup.
2022 NCAA Basketball Handicapping
(27-7) Tennessee Volunteers vs. Michigan Wolverines (18-14)
Date: Saturday, March 19, 2022
Time: 5:15 PM EST
Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
CBB Moneyline Odds: Tennessee -240 | Michigan +190
CBB Betting ATS Odds: Tennesseee -5.5 | Michigan +5.5 (Bet Now!)
CBB Betting Total: 135.5
The Tennessee Volunteers and Michigan Wolverines face off Saturday in round of 32 NCAA Tournament action.
Tennessee Volunteers
Guys, bear with me here. College basketball season usually conjures bad memories for your pal, The Line. Why, you ask? Well, The Line was born almost three months premature and with a clubbed foot many moons ago.
In spite of that, yours truly became a pretty fair teenage basketball player. So much so, The Line was nicknamed ‘Pistol Pete’ at his quaint country HS because of his dribbling and streak-shooting abilities. Hell, The Line outplayed all the other PG’s in his school’s annual Varsity scrimmage in 1998. After that glorious evening, some early Steve Nash comparisons were also thrown Line’s way, after he became a true dribbling machine.
If you’re still reading this sad anecdote (and why wouldn’t you be??), you might say, ‘Okay, The Line, what’s the problem? Well, the problem is my HS coach asked me to play varsity that fall, when I’d just turned 16, but for whatever reason he ultimately chose to start me on the JV.
Obviously, I never recovered from the psychic pain of that rejection. Basically, and this may come as a huge shock, my country club livin’ coach explained I wasn’t ‘cool enough’ for his varsity. Was it my leg? My hatchback ’84 Chevy Citation II, the fact I’d never kissed a girl, or my zit-filled face that kept me at AAA? Jilted, I jumped ship to the varsity soccer team to prove once and for all I had the makings of a varsity athlete.
(The Sopranos, 2000).
But every year at this time, I get pissed off when remembering my final organized HS basketball season. I added a pic to commemerate the 23rd year since my last HS game (8 PTS, 2 Ast). #33 Black and white is a very young, The Line. Weight lifting wasn’t yet my thing. Now, onto the regularly scheduled pick.
Tennessee’s roster certainly is filled with players that had the makings of varsity athletes, even if John Fulkerson’s UT career has spanned three or four presidencies. The Vols overcame a ho-hum SEC start to cop its league title and set high March expectations.
Now, after pounding the #14 seed Longwood Lancers (Really?), thus winning their 14th game in 15 outings, Rick Barnes’ men look like an Elite 8 team while their conference brethren already had postseason facepalms this week. I believe UT ripped out Kentucky’s soul, leaving the ‘Cats ripe for their OT embarrassment vs. #15 seed Saint Peter’s. Saint ‘Pistol Peter’s’. Lol.
Overall, the Vols add 106.5 points per 100 possessions and allow 90.5. An outstanding defensive club, with execution reminiscent of the Timmy Duncan-led Spurs, UT also shoots 43/36/71% while choking off offensive lifeblood from its foes.
Ironically, Michigan goes as its scoring goes. UT couldn’t ask for a better round of 32 draw.
Michigan Wolverines
Now that I’ve purged the excrement of my basketball youth to you, dear sports blog reader, you can expect the same-ol same-ol coverage from The Line. It had to be this way. Even if I still bristle about the varsity coach benching me for the entire fourth quarter after I scored 7 points in the last four minutes of that game’s penultimate frame. Or when the coach quipped ‘I was getting too big for my britches before sidelining me during a mixed practice because I was congratulated for dishing a fast-break assist against his first team. I guess those slights began my original March Madness.
And speaking of mixed, mixed results have followed Juwan Howard and Co.all season as Michigan has fallen from its elite standing earned one year ago.
This winter’s Wolverines alternated wins and losses before recently upsetting #6 seed Colorado State, 75-63. Due to their conference power discrepancy, I picked UM to take that upset on my ESPN prediction bracket -which still looks solid. However, for various reasons, I also chose UT to end Michigan’s run in second round play.
Meeeechigan just doesn’t have the interior toughness to go toe-to-toe with the Vols. Also, the Wolverines haven’t won consecutive games since Feb. 10.
UM averages 108.2 points per 100 possessions and allows 103.1. That defensive number is bad, The team’s rebounding and shot-blocking numbers also lend no indication they will stop Tennessee’s advance.
CBB Betting Trends:
- Wolverines are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Wolverines are 14-18 ATS overall this season.
- Volunteers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
- Volunteers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win.
- Volunteers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Volunteers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 neutral site games.
4* Free CBB Betting Pick: Tennessee Volunteers Cover -5.5
Well, as the CBB pickboard at CPS thins, it looks like The Line will likely switch to NBA coverage next. With gas and food prices soaring in the states, it’s great to entertain and inform ya across the board while supplementing my income.
And as my last few picks have hit paydirt, I suggest rolling with Tennessee ATS -5.5 here. Yes, the Big10 is vastly superior to the SEC, however, UT is an ultra capable bunch.
Further, Michigan just hasn’t shown winning consistency since early Feb., and has struggled all year vs. the very best. Tennessee is now among the very best.
Take the Vols with the points Saturday.
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