Longwood vs. Tennessee: NCAA Tournament odds, final score predictions from ESPN, KenPom

Tennessee opens play in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday with a First Round matchup against Longwood at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Ahead of the game, which will be broadcast live on CBS, predictions and betting odds – including KenPom analytics – are rolling in.

How to watch Longwood vs. Tennessee

Tip-off: 2:45 p.m. ET

Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana

Channel: CBS

Vegas odds

Tennessee is a 18.5-point favorite over Longwood in the NCAA Tournament, according to VegasInsider. The over-under is set at 133 points.

ESPN BPI prediction

Predicted winner: Tennessee

Predicted point differential: 19.6

Win probability (for Tennessee): 95.8%

Matchup quality: 70.8

ESPN’s College Basketball Power Index (BPI) is a tool that measures team strength and uses that to predict outcomes of future performances. ESPN’s BPI has Longwood vs Tennessee ranked as the 14th highest-rated game on Thursday’s NCAA Tournament slate in terms of matchup quality.

KenPom prediction

Predicted final score: Tennessee 74, Longwood 59

Win probability (for Tennessee): 91%

KenPom is another tool that provides advanced analysis across college basketball. Like ESPN, KenPom projects that Tennessee comes away with a victory over Longwood.

More on Longwood vs Tennessee

Both teams enter the NCAA Tournament coming off conference championship wins, with Longwood on an eight-game win streak and Tennessee on a seven-game win streak. After lifting the Big South title, Longwood made its first NCAA Tournament appearance at a 14-seed.

Based out of Virginia, the Lancers now get their first opportunity to pull off an upset against a Power Five school in the postseason. In addition to the eight games in a row, Longwood has won 19 of the past 20 games dating back to December.

Tennessee earned a 3-seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament field. Many felt they were under-seeded after watching their SEC Championship run. Winning 12 of their last 13, the Volunteers only loss came against top 25 Arkansas on the road.