#2 Tennessee vs #1 Houston NCAAB Pick: Top Defenses Clash in Elite 8 (Mar 30)

• Tennessee dominated Kentucky in the Sweet 16, defeating them 78-65.
• Houston held off Purdue in a thriller, winning 62-60 on a last second shot.
• These teams last met on December 19, 1995, in a game Tennessee won 69-49.

Houston and Tennessee meet in the Elite 8 in a battle of elite defenses. The winner will advance to the Final Four and face the Duke Blue Devils. The Cougars enter as slight favorites, but won’t face an easy task of taking down a capable Volunteers squad that is also red-hot.

Tennessee Continues to Surge

Tennessee may have lost twice to Kentucky in the regular season, but they were clearly the better team when it mattered in the Sweet 16. Leading from start to finish, the Volunteers asserted their dominance on defense. They never allowed the Wildcats to bring the score close or really get back into the game. They’ll be aiming to carry their momentum into this game.

Houston Needs to Heat Up

Houston didn’t look as confident as Tennessee in their Sweet 16 game, struggling to pull away from Purdue. They nearly allowed the game to go into overtime, but a well-designed inbounds play allowed the Cougars to take the lead with just seconds remaining. After advancing, they’ll face a major test on offense against Tennessee. They’ll need to be at their best to win this one.

Tennessee Volunteers vs Houston Cougars Pick

Based on the last round’s results, it may seem more reasonable to take Tennessee in this game. Their defense has repeatedly gotten the better of other teams. That being said, Houston carries an equally strong defense of their own. If both offenses struggle, the final minutes will come down to coaching. In that regard, I give Kelvin Sampson and Houston the edge.