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Upset Alert? Florida Atlantic vs. Tennessee Predictions, Picks & Odds

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Julian Phillips

One of the most pivotal matchups in the Sweet 16 round of this year’s March Madness NCAA Tournament will feature the #9-seed Florida Atlantic Owls vs. the #4-seed Tennessee Volunteers, with tipoff scheduled for 9:00 PM EDT on Thursday, March 23. The winner of the matchup will head to the Elite Eight, two wins away from playing for a National Championship.

Bettors love underdogs, and of all the Sweet 16 matchups, our Florida Atlantic vs. Tennessee upset predictions are among the most likely to come to fruition. In this article, we’ll go over our top Florida Atlantic vs. Tennessee upset predictions and explain how new users can qualify for $150 in bonus bet credits on DraftKings by signing up using this link.

FLORIDA ATLANTIC VS. TENNESSEE PREDICTION: Florida Atlantic +5.5 (-105 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

Click here to sign up at DraftKings and win $150 in bonus bets when you back our Florida Atlantic vs. Tennessee upset predictions on the money line with just a $5 wager.

Florida Atlantic Owls vs. Tennessee Volunteers basketball upset predictions for Thursday’s NCAA Tournament action

The Florida Atlantic Owls have been one of the major surprises of the tournament, reaching the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history. However, the Owls’ opponent for Thursday’s matchup is a step above the teams they’ve defeated thus far.

The Tennessee Volunteers, known for their physical, grinding style of play, will represent a unique challenge standing in the way of the Owls’ dreams of a National Championship.

Florida Atlantic will enter the game as a well-rounded squad, performing well on both defense and offense. Still, their strength lies on the offensive side of the ball – the Owls rank inside the top 50 in the NCAA in four crucial offensive categories: total points, field goal efficiency, three point efficiency and total rebounding.

To contrast, the Volunteers rank 238th in the NCAA in field goal percentage, 242nd in three-point percentage and 212th in free throw percentage. They run a slow, methodical offense that strives to capitalize on the mistakes they force on the defensive side of the ball. And while the Vols are fairly weak offensively, they more than make up for it on the other end of the court, ranking in the top five in the nation in total points allowed (third), field goal percentage allowed (third) and three point percentage allowed (first).

Essentially, this game will come down to the Owls’ ability to get physical with the Vols and unlock their offensive explosiveness. If FAU can get into a groove, their offense has the ability to take and hold leads; even if Tennessee’s defense holds FAU, their offense may make it difficult for the Vols to keep a lead.

With this in mind, our favorite Florida Atlantic vs. Tennessee upset prediction is for FAU to cover the spread as a 5.5-point underdog (-105, $105 wager wins $100 in profit). Adding credence to this upset pick is the fact that FAU has covered in six of their last nine overall, while Tennessee has covered in just one of their last five matchups against Conference USA opponents.

If you like FAU to cover the spread and cash on their (-105) odds as much as we do, head over to DraftKings and sign up using this link. First-time users who make a deposit of at least $5 and then bet $5 or more on any team’s money line (including our Florida Atlantic vs. Tennessee upset predictions) will earn $150 in bonus bet credits if your team wins. No promo code is required: simply sign up using one of the links in this article.

While our favorite Florida Atlantic vs. Tennessee upset prediction is for Florida Atlantic to cover the spread as 5.5-point underdogs, we think they also have a chance to cash out on their (+205) money line odds. And if you choose the money line market, you can unlock $150 in bonus bets at DraftKings.

In March, each team’s regular-season resume can be used to gain an idea of each side’s strengths and weaknesses, but what really matters is their current form. There is an unmeasurable advantage underdogs like Florida Atlantic possess: they’re in a no-lose situation, and stand to gain further notoriety for their school with each win.

With the way Florida Atlantic has been playing on both sides of the ball, we wouldn’t be surprised to see FAU heading to the Elite Eight instead of the Vols. While the Vols found their way to the Sweet 16 based on their elite defense, they are weak on offense.

If you think FAU can pull off the upset Thursday, and you’re a first-time DraftKings user, you’ll earn $150 in bonus bet credits if you win your first bet after depositing and betting at least $5 on FAU’s money line. This promotion will only run for a limited time, so act quickly by signing up here if you want to take advantage of this valuable promotion.

Florida Atlantic vs. Tennessee best bets & props including Johnell Davis over 13.5 points (-125)

Besides the game lines, some of the best Florida Atlantic vs. Tennessee upset predictions involve player props. One prop bet we particularly like is Florida Atlantic guard Johnell Davis’ total points prop, currently set at 13.5 points (-125) on DraftKings.

Over the course of the season, Davis averaged 13.9 points per game, enough to cover the spread; however, we love this prop line based on Davis’ recent performance more than his year-long statistics. Davis had a spectacular showing in the Round of 32 against FDU, scoring 29 points in 35 minutes and also tallying 12 rebounds, five assists and an impressive five steals.

With the season on the line, we think Davis will dig deep and deliver another highlight-worthy performance against Tennessee. Dating back to the C-USA Semifinals, Davis has averaged 18.2 points per game, illustrating his ability to put the team on his back offensively in big moments. Expect to see that again Thursday against the Vols and for Davis to cash his (-125) odds to score at least 14 points.

How to bet on FAU +5.5 or their money line with DraftKings and unlock a $150 promo code

First-time DraftKings bettors can use any of our top Florida Atlantic vs. Tennessee upset predictions to qualify to earn $150 in bonus bet credits if your first $5 bet of a pre-game money line wager wins. To qualify, you’ll need to meet the following conditions:

  • Be a first-time DraftKings customer in a state where the sportsbook operates
  • Be age 21 or older
  • Sign up for your account using this link
  • Make a deposit of at least $5
  • Place a bet on any sports market of at least $5

That’s it. Once you complete those steps, DraftKings will monitor your first bet. If it wins, you’ll receive your winnings as you normally would, plus, you’ll be granted $150 in bonus bet credits. This is a great way for new DraftKings bettors to take advantage of our Florida Atlantic vs. Tennessee upset predictions without worrying about depleting your bankroll.

Odds, lines, and spreads for Florida Atlantic vs. Tennessee provided by DraftKings

DraftKings sportsbook is currently offering the following betting odds for the Florida Atlantic vs. Tennessee March Madness matchup Thursday:

Spread:

  • FAU +5.5 (-105)
    Tennessee -5.5 (-115)

Money Line:

  • FAU +205
  • Tennessee -245

Point Total:

  • Over 130.5 points (-110)
    Under 130.5 points (-110)

If any of these lines catch your eye, head over to DraftKings and sign up using this link. New users who deposit and wager at least $5 on any sports market will receive $150 in bonus bet credits if their first bet money line bet wins. Act quickly, since this promotion will only last a short time.

If you or a loved one has questions or needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net for more information.