Sweet 16 Predictions, Including Tennessee Vols

The Tennessee Volunteers face off against Creighton on Friday. We preview all the action and the rest of the Sweet 16 contests.

March 23, 2024, Charlotte, NC, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes reacts against the / Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The Tennessee Volunteers face off against Creighton on Friday. We preview all the action and the rest of the Sweet 16 contests.

As March Madness continues, Tennessee and 15 other teams are looking to slot themselves into an elite eight spot. Throughout this process, each of these teams has won two games to advance to the point where they are in. Each team attempts to make the final four, but it all starts with advancing throughout the tournament. Below is my prediction for each game that is featured.

East Region

• #1 UConn vs San Diego State

UConn is a very strong team and a much stronger team than San Diego State. UConn has much more quality wins than San Diego State as they have even defeated fellow Sweet 16 team Marquette twice. I feel this game will be fairly close but the Huskies will win in the end. 74-67 UConn.

• #2 Iowa State vs #3 Illinois

To me, this is arguably the best game of the round. Iowa State is no slouch with the likes of Tamin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert however neither of them touch the talent of Terrance Shannon on the offensive side. Shannon is a cold-blooded assassin. Illinois has a chance to win the whole thing! Give me Illinois 72-68.

West Region

• #1 North Carolina vs #4 Alabama

Although Alabama is a tough team to play against I truly believe that RJ Davis will be the difference-maker in this game. The Tarheels have many key pieces to the puzzle but the biggest one of all is their star guard. Davis will have a high-caliber game to help carry the Tarheels past the Crimson Tide to continue the SEC curse that has hit the conference so far. North Carolina 66, Alabama 58.

• #2 Arizona vs #6 Clemson

Maybe I’m delusional, but I truly don’t see the hype around this Clemson team. I don’t believe they are bad, but no one could’ve convinced me they would be in a sweet 16 spot. Arizona, on the other hand, is a tough team. I like Caleb Love at the guard spot, and the North Carolina transfer is one of the best in the country. Arizona wins this one with a decent size margin. 84-67, Arizona wins.

South Region

• #1 Houston vs #4 Duke

This game will be a team effort on both sides. Duke is hard to pick against but so is the Cougars. I like Houston in this one with a team effort win. This game is very hard to read so the score that I formed was 66-64 in favor of Houston.

• #2 Marquette vs #11 North Carolina State

The Cinderella story is over! Marquette will ruin the Wolfpack’s run, and that’s all that needs to be said. This won’t be that close. 72-51 Marquette.

Midwest Region

• #1 Purdue vs #5 Gonzaga

Gonzaga obliterated the Kansas Jayhawks and are entering this game with full confidence but I feel like Zach Edey and the Boilermakers will counter punch them hard! I think this game is very close but in the end, the star bigman and his team will pull it off. Purdue 77, Gonzaga 76.

• #2 Tennessee vs #3 Creighton

This is likely the game you’ve all been waiting for! If you think I’m going to pick against the Tennessee Volunteers in this one, you’re crazy, and let me tell you why. Even on their worst days, the Volunteers still defeated a tough team like Texas. I believe that Dalton Knecht will come back to life in March, and he and the Volunteers will win… in a close one. 71-65 Volunteers.

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