The 9th-seeded FAU Owls (33-3) and 4th-seeded Tennessee Volunteers (25-10) meet Thursday in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament. Tip from Madison Square Garden in Manhattan is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET (TBS). Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the FAU vs. Tennessee odds as we make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
The Owls play in Madison Square Garden for the 1st time in school history and it its 1st Sweet 16. In fact, prior to this season, Florida Atlantic was 0-1 straight-up (SU) and 1-0 against the spread (ATS) in its only tournament appearance, falling to Alabama in 2002.
FAU’s Johnell Davis scored 29 points with 12 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals to become the 1st player in men’s NCAA Tournament history to go for 20+ points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ assists and 5+ steals in a single game.
The Owls have rattled off 9 straight wins, and its 33 victories ties Houston for the most in college basketball this season. It is also 6-3 ATS during the 9-game run since Feb. 16, a loss at Middle Tennessee.