- What: NCAA Men’s Sweet 16 Game
- When: March 28, 2025
- Who: Kentucky vs. Tennessee
- Time: 4:39 p.m. PST
- Where: Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, IN)
The third-seeded Kentucky Wildcats (24-11) will face the second-seeded Tennessee Volunteers (29-7) on Friday in a Sweet 16 clash from the Midwest Region.
The game will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, with tip-off scheduled for 7:39 p.m. ET.
Kentucky secured its spot in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019 by defeating the sixth-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini 84-75 on Sunday.
Despite being 2.5-point underdogs, the Wildcats took control of the match, and the Under (167) was achieved. Guard Koby Brea led the team with 23 points, while center Amari Williams contributed significantly with 8 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks, and a steal.
Tennessee reached the Sweet 16 for the third year in a row with a 67-58 victory over the No. 7 seed UCLA Bruins on Saturday, successfully covering as a 5-point favorite while the Over (132.5) cashed in.
Guard Chaz Lanier led the Volunteers, scoring 20 points and shooting 4-of-5 from three-point range. Meanwhile, guard Zakai Zeigler made significant contributions with 15 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals.
Kentucky has shown it can compete with Tennessee, having won both encounters this season (78-73 and 75-64) and taking seven of the last ten matchups between the teams.
This game features Kentucky’s explosive offense, which averages 85 points per game (6th in the nation), going up against Tennessee’s stingy defense, which limits opponents to just 62.9 PPG (8th).
While Kentucky was held under 80 points in both prior games, Tennessee’s occasional offensive struggles have been a factor.
I still think Tennessee will win this one. It’s challenging to defeat the same team three times in a season, particularly when it comes to well-acquainted conference rivals.
Additionally, strong guard play is crucial in the NCAA Tournament, and I’m confident in the experienced backcourt of Lanier and Zeigler. Tennessee will win, but expect Kentucky to keep the game close and cover the spread.
Kentucky-Tennessee Best Bet
Best Bet: Kentucky +4.5 Points at -110 odds
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Tony Reyes is a sports betting analyst and reporter for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X @TonyParlay.
