The No. 2 Iowa State Cyclones are set to greet the No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers in the Sweet 16 tonight in Chicago at 9:10 p.m. CT on TBS and truTV. Hopeful to keep their Midwest Region hopes alive, the Cyclones (29-7) dominated Kentucky without their big man, Joshua Jefferson, to reach the second weekend. Upending No. 3 Virginia, Tennessee (24-11) is hoping to knock another Big 12 squad out of the field and position itself in the region finale this weekend. Here is a prediction, preview, odds and key storylines ahead of tipoff.
Iowa State vs. Tennessee Game Odds
Iowa State enters the contest as a 3.5-point favorite with an over/under of 138.5 points. The line has moved up to a 4-point favorite as of Friday morning, with the over/under edging up to 140.0 total points.
Key Storyline: Will Joshua Jefferson Return?
Jefferson is set to miss tonight’s game, as announced by the team on Friday night, one hour before tip off. So Iowa State will miss the All-American for their class with Tennessee.
Match Up to Watch: Who Creates What?
Two senior guards, Iowa State’s Tamin Lipsey and Tennessee’s Ja’kobi Gillespie, make for an interesting frontcourt battle. Lipsey is the school’s all-time steals leader and ranks in the top 3 for career steals among the Big 12. Another great night of defense out of the senior could give Iowa State the edge it needs should Jefferson not be there to help Milan Momcilovic inside. Big and physical, Tennessee will exploit any interior gaps should they get them.
Prediction: Iowa State 68, Tennessee 66
Tennessee will make this one interesting with its combination of experience and size, but Iowa State has serious leverage in that Otz can pick and plug several names onto the floor and have results. A freshman Nate Ament is in for a long night with Momcilovic in the paint, too. Tennessee rebounds exceptionally well, but I’d take Iowa State in a close one based on the strength of schedule and their resilience in the face of Jefferson’s absence. Even if he returns, he won’t be at 100%, and the Cyclones are seemingly prepared for either scenario.
