Miami-Ohio vs. Tennessee First Round Game Preview, Picks, Betting Odds & Data

By Thom Cunningham | Mar 19, 2026, 5:31pm

The Miami-Ohio Redhawks got into March Madness despite the controversy, and boy did they capitalize with a huge First Four win over SMU. Now, the Redhawks look to continue their mid-major momentum against a tough Rick Barnes Tennessee Vols club. Let’s get you ready for this highly anticipated showdown in the Midwest Region with betting odds, data and analysis.

Miami-Ohio vs. Tennessee Game Information

Date: Friday, Mar. 20, 2026
Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Network: TBS
Region: Midwest
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Venue: Xfinity Mobile Arena

Miami-Ohio vs. Tennessee Betting Resources

Miami-Ohio vs. Tennessee Betting Odds

Miami-Ohio vs. Tennessee Betting Data

Miami-Ohio Redhawks

Region Odds:
Sweet 16 Odds:
Elite Eight Odds:
Final Four Odds:
National Title Odds:

Seed: No. 11
Record: 32-1
Conference: MAC
PS/G: 90.6
PA/G: 75.4
ORtg: 124.2
DRtg: 103.3

Tennessee Volunteers

Region Odds:
Sweet 16 Odds:
Elite Eight Odds:
Final Four Odds:
National Title Odds:

Seed: No. 6
Record: 22-11
Conference: SEC
PS/G: 79.5
PA/G: 69.4
ORtg: 116.8
DRtg: 101.9

Miami-Ohio vs. Tennessee Key Players

Miami-Ohio Redhawks

Peter Suder – Last Game: 7 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists
Brant Byers – Last Game: 19 points
Elan Elmer – Last Game: 23 points

Tennessee Volunteers

Ja’Kobi Gillespie (SR) – 18 ppg; 5.5 apg
Nate Ament (FR) – 17.5 ppg; 6.6 rpg
J.P. Estrella (JR) – 10.1 ppg; 5.2 rpg

Miami-Ohio vs. Tennessee Betting Analysis

The Redhawks covered for us on Wednesday evening, also winning outright as the score projection indicated but we played it safe with the spread. It will be a similar play for this game, which we’ll get to below. Miami-Ohio improves to 5-0 ATS as an underdog, playing up to the disrespected role this season and again in Dayton, Ohio. The Redhawks have now hit the Over in three straight games following Wednesday’s result as well.

For Tennessee, they are just 14-19 ATS this season and is currently on a 2-4 ATS skid. There is a lot more conviction in the point total market for the Vols, hitting the Under in six of seven games along with 10 of 13. Tennessee has also gone Under 149 total points in a remarkable 27 of 29 non-conference games on a neutral court.

Miami-Ohio vs. Tennessee Best Bet, Pick & Prediction

The trends above, along with the score projection below, suggests the ATS market as the safest one to play – so we’ll abide. Miami-Ohio just covered its fifth straight game as an underdog, now getting more points to play with (+12) while also riding in with tons of momentum. If Texas falls on Thursday, then it adds more conviction to the Redhawks covering.

The total is much more murky, given the Tennessee Under tendencies.

Score Prediction: Miami-Ohio 80, Tennessee 79
Best Bet: Miami-Ohio +12 (-110)

Photo Credit: AP/Jeff Dean

Thom Cunningham

Thom Cunningham is the Lineups.com News Editor and has been involved with sports media for almost two decades at Spectrum, VegasInsider.com, Oddschecker, VSiN and much more as a content producer - focused on the betting and gaming space over the last decade tracking insights, data analytics and covering various markets from the NFL to the Oscars.