Tennessee and Michigan both made it out of the Round of 64 at the 2022 NCAA Tournament, setting up a second-round matchup in Indianapolis.
The Volunteers (27-7) advanced to the second round for the second time in the past three tournaments after throttling Longwood 88-56 on Thursday. They beat Iowa in the second round in 2019 before losing to Purdue in the Sweet 16.
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Tennessee had five players score in double figures in this year's first-round matchup, including all three of its guards.
Michigan (18-14) was a favorite over No. 6 Colorado State as a No. 11 seed. It fell behind early but was able to dig itself out of the hole with a strong second half before posting a 75-63 win. Hunter Dickinson put up 21 points and Moussa Diabaté hauled in nine rebounds. Michigan's size was a difference in the game as it outrebounded Colorado State 36-25.
MORE: Bender's full bracket predictions
Tennessee vs. Michigan odds
- Spread: Tennessee -5.5
- Over/under: 136
- Moneyline: Tennessee -230, Michigan +188
Three betting trends to watch
— Michigan games have gone over in five of the Wolverines' last six, including their win over Colorado State.
— With Thursday's win, Rick Barnes' Volunteers are 2-5 against the spread in tournament play. Barnes himself is now 2-11-1 against the spread in his last 14 tournament games.
— Tennessee is 5-2 against the spread in neutral site games this year, while Michigan is 3-2 in such games.
Tennessee key players
Josiah-Jordan James has been one of the best players on the floor for Tennessee the past two months. The 6-6 guard scored 17 points and hauled in nine rebounds against Longwood to spearhead the Vols' dominant effort.
Santiago Vescovi and Kennedy Chandler also had big games from the Tennessee backcrourt, scoring 13 and 18 points, respectively. If Devante' Jones isn't back for the Wolverines for this game, look for one of these three to have a big game. Zakai Zeigler and John Fulkerson can provide a spark off the bench.
Michigan key players
Michigan needs to win this game from the inside. Hunter Dickinson (7-1, 255 pounds) is averaging 18.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. He had a big game against Colorado State but took a while to get going. Eli Brooks also put together a nice game.
DeVante' Jones, one of Michigan's most important players, is questionable for this with a concussion. If he sits again, Michigan's guard rotation will be lacking against Tennessee, particularly on the defensive end. Freshman reserve Frankie Collins did fill in nicely against the Rams with 14 points and 6 rebounds. Keep an eye on Jones' status as Saturday approaches.
Best individual matchup: Josiah-Jordan James vs. Caleb Houstan
Michigan needs its length to try to contain James, who's been playing next-level basketball for the past month. Houstan (6-foot-8, 205 pounds) made a few big shots in key situations for the Wolverines against Colorado State, and Michigan will need more of that against the potent Tennessee offense. Even if Dickinson is possibly the best player on the floor in this game, James is the player it's most important for either to contain.
Tennessee vs. Michigan stat to know
Michigan gave up nearly 70 points per game this year, whereas Tennessee scored around 75. If Tennessee is able to shoot the ball as well as it did on Thursday -- 60 percent from the floor -- it takes away what Michigan does best, which is work the glass. Michigan's guards come in fairly small against Tennessee's length, so if Tennessee plays the averages, it could be a long night for the Wolverines.
Get to know ... Caleb Houstan, Michigan
Not only will Houstan be tasked with guarding one of Tennessee's most dynamic players, he's apparently one of the only players on the team comfortable with pulling the trigger from beyond the arc. Houstan went 3 of 8 from deep on Thursday, and he was the only player for the Wolverines to hit multiple 3-point shots. That skill will become more important if Michigan is to get any deeper in this tournament.
Tennessee vs. Michigan prediction
Michigan may succeed in its efforts to win in the paint early, but Tennessee's shooting and pace will eventually overpower the Wolverines. In a game that's close at the half, Tennessee will pull away as the game goes on and not only win, but also cover its 5.5-point spread.
Final score: Tennessee 76, Michigan 65
