Last Updated on March 18, 2010 7:18 pm by drew
Tennessee-SDSU Pick
The last scheduled game for Thursday night in the NCAA Tournament features a matchup between Tennessee and San Diego State.
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This contest is part of the Midwest Regional and will take place from the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island at 9:45PM ET. The Volunteers are the No. 6 seed and the Aztecs are the No. 11 seed.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made Tennessee 3.5-point favorites over San Diego State on Thursday night. The over/under for the game has been set at 126.
Tennessee is making its 18th NCAA Tournament appearance and fifth straight appearance. The Volunteers are 25-8 overall and 11-5 in the SEC. The Volunteers are the only team in the country to defeat both Kansas and Kentucky this season.
San Diego State is making its third tournament appearance. The Aztecs are 25-8 this season and 11-5 in the Mountain West Conference, having won the tournament title to earn the automatic bid. SDSU averages 71 points per-game on offense, which ranks 109th in the country. The Aztecs allow just 61.2 points per-game, which ranks 30th nationally. SDSU has four players that average between 10 and 13 points per-game. Kawhi Leonard is scoring 12.8 points per-game while pulling down 9.9 rebounds per-game to lead the Aztecs.
Tennessee has the capability of winning the whole tournament, but it also has the capability of losing this opening game. The Volunteers like dictate tempo, but the Aztecs will likely make this a slower game. No matter what, look for the game to come down to the final minute of play, which plays in SDSU’s favor for covering. We like the Aztecs to cover with the under.
Our NCAA Tournament Free Pick for this matchup is:
March Madness Betting Trends
San Diego State is 9-4 ATS in its last 13 games
Tennessee is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Tennessee’s last 14 games
Tennessee is 5-11 ATS in its last 16 games
March Madness Injury Report
TENNESSEE
(!)[G/F] 01/08/2010 – Tyler Smith has been dismissed from the team ( Suspension )
[F] 11/13/2009 – Emmanuel Negedu out for season ( Heart )
SAN DIEGO ST
[F] 02/01/2010 – Tim Shelton out for season ( Knee )
[F] 12/22/2009 – Mehdi Cheriet expected to redshirt ( None )
March Madness Game Odds
Tennessee Volunteers -3.5 Over 126
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Posted: 3/18/10 7:18PM ET