Tennessee Vols Odds to Win 2008 Tournament
Written March 3, 2008 by Jack Jones
The Tennessee Volunteers beat the #1 ranked Memphis Tigers and were rewarded with their first #1 ranking in school history. But that probably won’t last long as the team battled Vanderbilt early in the week, and were shocked 72 -69. While they are likely to lose their #1 ranking, they should remain in the top 5. Tennessee is currently 25-3 overall and leading the SEC East at 11-2. The Volunteers are a lock for the NCAA Tournament, but a #1 seed could still be up in the air. They will need a strong finish in the final three regular season games, and a good showing in the SEC Tournament.Outspoken coach Bruce Pearl, who had this team looking like it was the best in the nation hands down until its fall to the Commodores, leads the Volunteers. The Volunteers loves to play an up tempo style of play, and are led by senior guard Curtis Lofton. Lofton leads the team in scoring with 15.4 PPG. The team gets solid performances from the three Smiths on the team, though not related they play as if they are. Senior JaJuan Smith is next in line in scoring bringing in 14 PPG. Sophomore Tyler Smith might have been the missing piece the team needed this year. Smith played at the University of Iowa last year, but transferred back home after a family matter. Smith might be the best player on the team that doesn’t get a lot of talk as he scores 13.4 PPG, 6.9 RPG, and 3.6 APG. Though third in scoring he leads the team in rebounds and assists. Sophomore Ramar Smith finishes up the trio with 8.2 PPG and is second to Tyler Smith with 3.1 APG. Another sophomore in Wayne Chisim rounds out the starting 5. Chisim brings in a solid 9.1 PPG and 6 RPG.
The Volunteers have three games remaining in the regular season, and the most important is going to be the match up against Kentucky. Kentucky is currently only one game behind Tennessee in the SEC, and have already beat the Vols earlier this year. So if Tennessee is unable to beat Kentucky on March 2, they will likely finish second and have almost no chance of getting that #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The team also has to make a trip to Gainesville to face the very tough Florida Gators, and then back home to finish off the regular season against South Carolina before heading to the SEC Tournament.
There is no doubt that Tennessee is a legit team this year, as they proved it against Memphis a week ago. They will need to almost be perfect the rest of the way to get the #1 seed, the key is beating Kentucky and securing the SEC regular season championship. Whether the Vols are a #1 or #2 seed, we don’t see that changing their chances it all in 2008. What makes college basketball so great anybody can beat the other guy, and if the Vols get on another hot streak it could take them all the way to the Final Four and National Championship.
2008 Tennessee Volunteers Odds to Win NCAA Tournament: 10/1
If you think that this is the year for the Volunteers to win it all, then head over to Sportsbook.com and get your account up and going for this years NCAA Tournament. Sportsbook.com has odds for every team’s chance to win the NCAA Tournament. Sportsbook.com will also have all the odds for every game including those leading up to the big dance.
