#6 Tennessee vs. #3 Virginia Picks and Predictions: Round of 32
Written by: Nate Hornung
Published: Sun Mar 22, 2026, 12:42 pm ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
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Rick Barnes and the Tennessee Volunteers are one win away from the Sweet 16, but it won't come easy as they take on the Virginia Cavaliers in the Round of 32. This matchup is taking place in Philadelphia, after both won their opener. Virginia had a little bit more trouble than expected against the Wright State Raiders, but eventually pulled out a win. Will they be able to recoup and focus up against the Volunteers tonight? Let's check out our CBB expert picks and find out what they're wagering on.
Check out our March Madness Betting Guide to get in on all the action this month!
Best Bet: Virginia ML (-104) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
Go check out what else I've got on my daily card, and view the latest odds at the best online sportsbooks.
#6 Tennessee Volunteers vs. #3 Virginia Cavaliers NCAA Basketball Insights
Ja'Kobi Gillespie and the Vols might be in for some trouble against Virginia tonight
The Volunteers made very easy work of the Miami (OH) Redhawks on Friday as they dominated from the tip off. Tennessee is the best offensive rebounding team in the country, they shot 45% from beyond the arc, but can they duplicate that performance against the Cavaliers? Virginia has been the surprise of the season for me this year, and they have the players to compete with Tennessee on the glass.
They find themselves in the top 10 in the country in terms of offensive rebounding, and personally I like their defense slightly better as well. In what is probably going to be a low scoring game, the Cavaliers could definitely hold their own against Tennessee's big bodies in the front court.
Matchup Information – Tennessee vs. Virginia – March 22
- Venue & Location: Xfinity Mobile Arena (Philadelphia, PA)
- Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026
- Kick Off: 6:10 p.m. Eastern
- Broadcast: TNT
Tennessee vs. Virginia Betting Odds
Odds are courtesy of Lucky Rebel, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of March 22, 2026 at 11:21 a.m. eastern. Sign up today with and get a $1,250 deposit bonus, as well as 50 slot spins immediately. Lucky Rebel Sportsbook offers a wide variety of unique markets across nearly every sport imaginable.
Spread
- Tennessee -1 (-109)
- Virginia +1 (-111)
Moneyline
- Tennessee -117
- Virginia -104
Total
- Over 137.5 (-110)
- Under 137.5 (-110)
#6 Tennessee vs. #3 Virginia NCAA Basketball Picks and Predictions
Back Virginia as a slight underdog to beat Tennessee
Tennessee vs. Virginia Prediction: Virginia Wins Outright, Over 137.5
Best Bet: Virginia ML (-104) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook
I'll take a stab with the ACC runner ups this season. Virginia has been exceeding expectations all year long. They rank top 20 in the country defensively, top five in eFG% defense, and are top six in opponent 2P% as well. Most of the Volunteer's offense is from inside the arc, just under 70% of their shots. Virginia clearly has the defense to make it extra hard for them to put the ball in the hoop.
This is going to be a low scoring game, as both teams are north of 270 in possessions per game. If it comes down to free throws, I certainly trust the Cavaliers more, as they shoot over 73% while Tennessee as a team shoots just 69%. That stuff matters in March, folks.
Virginia is a matchup nightmare for the Volunteers. The Cavs play slow, but are efficient on offense, and shoot it well and often from downtown. They can also defend the rim, compete on the boards, and make it impossible for Tennessee to get those easy points. Virginia wins this game from the charity stripe and the three point arc.
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Check Out the Other March Madness Content from Betting News
For college basketball bettors, March Madness is the most wonderful time of the year. And at Betting News, we have you covered for this festively fun season with expert picks throughout the tournament from Nate Hornung and Eddie Griffin, consensus picks for every March Madness game from the First Four to the Final Four, a rundown of the best March Madness betting sites, and more.
Also, through our streams and social media channels, you can get even more insight from Nate and other members of the Betting News team, as well as offer your own thoughts and tips for the tournament.
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Nate has been a recreational sports bettor for about 5 years. In that time, he has grown to love the pursuit of winners and sticking it to The Man. Nate loves data and uses his understanding of numbers to help him be a more profitable sports gambler, however he will be the first to tell you this game is about more than just stats.
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