Is #5 Tennessee a Winning Pick for the 2019 March Madness Tournament?

With the end of the 2018-19 NCAA college basketball regular season at hand and the start of the 2019 March Madness tournament getting closer by the day, college hoops bettors everywhere need to know just which teams look like they could be legitimate potential winners of this year’s national championship. The odds to win the 2019 College Basketball Championship are quite in their favor.

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With that thought in mind, we’re going to delve into the question of whether or not the seventh-ranked Tennessee Volunteers (27-3) are a legitimate national championship selection or whether you’d be better served making your national championship pick on another legitimate title favorite. Okay, with that said, let’s get started.

Is #5 Tennessee a Winning Pick for the 2019 March Madness Tournament?

like a record ⏯️ pic.twitter.com/nGd3wuU3t2
— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) 7 de marzo de 2019

Why Tennessee Is A Winning Pick to Win It All

The Offense

Tennessee can score the ball with just about any team in the nation as they average a healthy 82.4 points per game to rank 20th nationally in scoring. The Vols rank a stellar sixth in field goal shooting percentage (50.0%) and have five players that average double figures in scoring.

A Legitimate Star

Tennessee has a legitimate star in junior forward Grant Williams (19.1 ppg, 7.6 ppg) that they can turn to when they need a basket. Williams might not get the national media attention that other players get, but he’s a star in every sense of the word.

The Defense

Tennessee limits the opposition to 67.1 points per game to rank 62nd nationally in points allowed. More importantly, the Vols rank a stellar ninth in field goal defense by harassing their opponents into a woeful 39.0 percent shooting mark.

They’ve Beaten Some Powerhouses

The Vols have recorded wins over Louisville, currently, top-ranked Gonzaga and Kentucky, among others and that is a great indicator that they can beat anyone.

Why Tennessee Is Not A Winning Pick to Win It All

If It’s Three, It’s No For Me!

Tennessee shoots a modest 35.3 percent from beyond the arc (129) and could potentially doom them if they face a hot three-point shooting opponent.

Lack of Depth

While Tennessee features an impressive five double-digit scorers, the Vols also have a noticeable drop-off once you get past their top six rotation players and that could be a problem if one of their top performers gets in foul trouble.

Analysis

In the end, if you want to know whether Tennessee is a winning pick as far as their national championship hopes are concerned, the answer is an unequivocal yes. The Vols can play with any team in the country and they look like legitimate title favorite to me.

Is #5 Tennessee a Winning Pick for the 2019 March Madness Tournament?

Is #5 Tennessee a Winning Pick for the 2019 March Madness Tournament?