No. 2 seed Tennessee is dancing in March for a fifth-consecutive season under head coach Rick Barnes. Last year ended in the Elite Eight, and the March Madness odds suggest another deep run for the Volunteers.

Standing in the way is No. 15 seed Wofford, making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019. The Terriers have a solid track record in March, winning their last four first-round matchups.

The best March Madness betting sites offer the Volunteers as a hefty 18.5-point favorite, and the total is relatively low at 133.5. Below are my predictions and best bets for Wofford vs. Tennessee.

Wofford vs. Tennessee predictions and best bets

Note: Odds are based on the best value our experts find when writing; check lines closer to game time to ensure you get the best odds.

Wagering on a favorite as big as Tennessee can be risky. The Volunteers are obviously the better team, but who knows when Barnes will pull starters if his team gains a healthy lead.

After losing to Florida in the SEC Tournament championship, Tennessee should be plenty motivated to start March Madness with a bang. Plus, the Vols are 9-4 against the spread (ATS) in non-conference matchups. They’re also 9-7 ATS as a double-digit favorite.

Both teams work at a slow pace on offense. The Terriers rank 335th in average possession length, and the Volunteers are 263rd.

Limiting possessions may work for Wofford in the Southern Conference, but Tennessee has the skill advantage and won’t be fazed by the lack of tempo. The Terriers will likely need to break from the norm and speed things up to try to keep pace on the scoreboard.

Related: See which SEC team has the best March Madness odds

Wofford’s only matchup with a national championship contender resulted in an 86-35 blowout loss to Duke. The Terriers shot just 24.6% from the field and were badly outrebounded in their lowest-scoring game of the year. Tennessee ranks third in defensive efficiency at KenPom, meaning Wofford’s offense is due for another rough game.

Chaz Lanier and Zakai Zeigler lead the Vols in scoring, but Jordan Gainey is the player to watch. Gainey averaged 15.5 points in Tennessee’s last six games, including a season-high 24 points in the SEC title game. I’ll take the senior to stay hot and surpass his points prop, especially with the friendly +210 odds at bet365.

Wofford vs. Tennessee moneyline odds analysis

Why Tennessee could win as the favorite

Best odds: -2000 at Caesars Sportsbook

A 15-seed upsetting a 2-seed is rare. It’s only happened 11 times in 156 games, but that doesn’t mean the Volunteers can sleepwalk to the round of 32. Since 2021, we’ve seen three 15-seeds advance to the second round, most recently in 2023 when Princeton took down Arizona.

The Terriers aren’t strong from beyond the arc, but 38.8% of their scoring distribution comes from 3-pointers (27th-most in the nation). Tennessee holds opponents to the lowest 3-point percentage in college basketball, which is very bad news for Wofford

Look for the Volunteers to go over every screen and force the Terriers into long 2-pointers or shots near the rim. Tennessee makes opponents work for every bucket, and Wofford doesn’t have the size to win with shots inside the arc.

Why Wofford could win as the underdog

Best odds: +1500 at Fanatics Sportsbook

Wofford’s moneyline odds imply just a 6.25% chance of victory. If you haven’t checked your calendar recently, this is March, and anything is possible. We’re only two years removed from No. 1 seed Purdue’s shocking loss to No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson.

The Terriers weren’t overly impressive in the regular season, finishing sixth in the SoCon before winning the conference tournament. However, season-long results can be deceptive if a team peaks at the right time.

Notching an upset over Tennessee requires an A+ performance from points and assists leader Corey Tripp. Wofford ranks 27th nationally in offense rebounding thanks to undersized center Kyler Filewich. Getting second chances against Vols big men Igor Milicic Jr. and Felix Okpara won’t be easy, but Filewich’s rebounding will be needed more than ever.

Wofford lost to Tennessee 82-61 early last season, and the familiarity could help keep today’s game closer than expected.