Tennessee vs Kentucky prediction, picks for 2025 men's NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
It's Tennessee vs Kentucky in the 2025 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. See our expert picks and predictions for the March Madness bracket, along with how to watch and game time.
The 2025 men's NCAA Tournament is in full swing. After starting with 68 teams, the field is down to 16. A Sweet 16, that is.
Tournament action continues with the Sweet 16 on Friday, featuring a matchup between Tennessee and Kentucky in the Midwest Region.
The Tennessee Volunteers earned a No. 2 seed in the 2025 March Madness bracket and defeated the Wofford Terriers in the first round and the UCLA Bruins in the Round of 32 to reach this point. Tennessee's opponent, the 3-seeded Kentucky Wildcats, advanced after defeating both the Troy Trojans and the Illinois Fighting Illini.
Tennessee ranks as the fifth-best team in the KenPom rankings, sporting the 17th-best offense and third-best defense. Meanwhile, Kentucky ranks 15th overall with the 11th-ranked offense and 45th-ranked defense.
Here's how our experts see Friday's Sweet 16 clash playing out. Be sure to check out the complete March Madness 2025 Sweet 16 schedule, times and TV info.
Tennessee vs. Kentucky picks and predictions
- Jeremy Cluff: Tennessee 75, Kentucky 73
- Craig Meyer: Kentucky 70, Tennessee 66
- Mike Wilson: Tennessee 76, Kentucky 68
- Ryan Black: Tennessee 82, Kentucky 78
Three of our four experts are expecting Tennessee to continue dancing into the Elite Eight. Only Paste BN's Craig Meyer is predicting Kentucky to win and advance. However, AZ Central's Jeremy Cluff and Louisville Courier Journal's Ryan Black are both taking Kentucky to cover the 4.5-point spread. That leaves Knoxville News Sentinel's Mike Wilson as the lone wolf laying the points with the Volunteers. Meyer and Wilson are taking the under 144.5-point total, while Cluff and Black are on the over.
Tennessee vs. Kentucky date, start time, where to watch
- Game Day: Friday, March 28, 2025
- Game Time: 7:39 p.m. ET
- Location: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana
- TV Channel: TBS
- Live Stream: Sling TV - Watch Now!
Watch Tennessee vs. Kentucky on Sling TV
Tennessee vs. Kentucky odds
Odds as of Monday, March 24 via BetMGM.
- Spread: Tennessee -4.5 (-110)
- Moneyline Favorite: Tennessee -200
- Moneyline Underdog: Kentucky +165
- Total: 144.5
March Madness Sweet 16 game-by-game predictions
- Alabama vs. BYU predictions, picks
- Florida vs. Maryland predictions, picks
- Duke vs. Arizona predictions, picks
- Texas Tech vs. Arkansas predictions, picks
- Michigan State vs. Ole Miss predictions, picks
- Tennessee vs. Kentucky predictions, picks
- Auburn vs. Michigan predictions, picks
- Houston vs. Purdue predictions, picks
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