What is the Line on Tennessee vs. Michigan?

Carrie Stroup here and I have your line on the Tennessee vs. Michigan game for Friday night.  Remember, place your 1^st bet here at Sportsbook.com and receive your 2^nd bet FOR FREE up to $100.

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS (24-12) vs. MICHIGAN WOLVERINES (27-8)

Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Michigan -3.5 & 136.5

No. 11 seed Tennessee looks to advance to the Elite Eight as it takes on second-seeded Michigan Friday in a Midwest semifinal in Indianapolis.

Tennessee barely made the NCAA Tournament Field, as the club was selected to play in the First Four, but this is now a legitimate contender to make the Final Four. The Volunteers' frontcourt has been dynamite, and enters Friday with 38.8 RPG (20th in nation). They are 8-1 SU (7-2 ATS) in their past nine contests, with the only loss coming to No. 1 overall seed Florida by seven points in the SEC semifinals. But since then, Tennessee has been rolling in the NCAA Tournament, winning its three games by an average of 17.3 PPG, while scoring 82.3 PPG on 49.1% FG. The Vols are now 19-13-2 ATS (59%) overall this season, including 8-5-1 ATS in non-conference play and a stellar 6-2 (SU and ATS) on a neutral court. The Wolverines are also red-hot, going 9-1 SU (6-4 ATS) in their past 10 contests, including wins by 17 and 14 points in the NCAA Tournament. They are now 18-14-1 ATS (56%) overall this season, including 6-5-1 versus non-conference teams and 4-4-1 ATS (7-2 SU) on a neutral court. The biggest strength for Michigan is its ability to shoot the ball, as the team ranks 27th in the country with its 47.5% FG clip. This has allowed the team to thrive despite its lack of great post presence since PF Mitch McGary was injured early in the season. Both teams have favorable coaching trends here, as Cuonzo Martin is 22-9 ATS (71%) after having won four of the previous five games as the Tennessee head coach, while John Beilein is an impressive 18-4 ATS (82%) in NCAA Tournament games as Michigan's head coach.

The Volunteers come into the game averaging 72.3 PPG (130th in nation) on 45.1% FG (131st in Div. I), despite a poor 32.6% clip from three-point range (238th in nation). Defensively the team holds teams to a mere 61.4 PPG (17th in Div. I) on 41.0% FG (56th in nation). SF Jarnell Stokes (15.2 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 2.1 APG) has been an absolute beast in the first three games of the NCAA Tournament, averaging 20.3 PPG and 15.0 RPG. Stokes is an imposing figure at 6-foot-8, 260 pounds with the strength to overpower his opponents. However, another thing that makes Stokes so effective is his teammate in the paint is PF Jeronne Maymon (9.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG) who shoots 54% from the field. While he is not a highly skilled offensive player, Maymon simply outworks his opponent, tallying 8.7 PPG and 8.7 RPG in the NCAAs. This duo's ability to dominate the glass plays a huge role for the team because it allows the wing players to have the confidence to put up shots. Leading scorer SG Jordan McRae (18.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG) is never afraid to shoot, posting 18.3 PPG in the NCAAs despite a paltry 4-of-18 clip (22%) from three-point range. For the season, he shoots a pedestrian 43% FG and 36% threes. At 6-foot-6, he is a very difficult guard as he can score over opposing guards, and is too athletic for forwards to stay in front of him when he drives to the basket. Josh Richardson (10.1 PPG, 2.9 RPG) had a solid regular season for the Volunteers, but has been on an absolute tear in the NCAA Tournament, averaging 19.3 PPG on 61% FG. Against Mercer on Sunday, he finished with 26 points (9-of-13 FG) as he was consistently getting to the rim. PG Antonio Barton (7.7 PPG, 2.1 APG) transferred from Memphis for this season, and has given the Volunteers a solid senior guard running the show with a 2.2 Ast/TO ratio and less than one turnover per game. Tennessee is a veteran team that is playing its best basketball of the season, and will present the Wolverines with a lot of problems.

While Michigan has been a great team this season, it has had major problems on the glass, ranking 175th in the nation in rebounding margin (+0.5 RPG). The absence of PF Mitch McGary, who was instrumental in the team's run to last year's NCAA title game, has played a huge role in the struggles on the boards, as he was averaging 8.3 RPG before his injury. However, this is still a terrific offensive team, averaging 74.0 PPG (81st in Div. I) and 8.6 made threes per game (16th in nation) on an impressive 39.8% clip (7th in Div. I). SG Nik Stauskas (17.4 PPG, 3.3 APG) has taken his game to the next level. While he remains an elite outside shooter (45% threes), his ability to get to the rim has made him one of the top scorers in the country. He has scored at least 15 points in 10 straight games, including 16.0 PPG on 7-of-15 threes in the two NCAA Tournament wins. PF Glenn Robinson III (13.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG) is one of the most athletic forwards in the country, but will need to play much more physical against the Volunteers' big bodies inside. So far in the tourney, he's averaging 14.0 PPG and 6.0 RPG. PF Jordan Morgan (6.0 PPG, 69% FG, 5.0 RPG) did not play a huge role during the season, but has played some terrific basketball in the NCAA Tournament with 12.5 PPG (8-of-13 FG, 9-of-11 FT) and 10.0 RPG, tallying double-doubles in both games. If the Wolverines can get big performances from guys like SG Caris LeVert (13.1 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.8 APG) and freshman PG Derrick Walton Jr. (8.1 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.9 APG), they will be difficult to guard. LeVert (41% threes) teams with Stauskas to form one of the elite shooting duos in the country, while Walton Jr. has stepped into the point guard role as a freshman, and played very well at times with a respectable 1.9 Ast/TO ratio. Walton has also shown the ability to play better in bigger games with just six turnovers in five postseason games. If he is able to win the battle against Barton, Michigan will be in great shape to get the victory.

- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter