2026 Elite Eight odds, predictions: Tennessee vs. Michigan picks from expert on 44-28 college basketball roll

The sixth-seeded Tennessee Volunteers look to reach the Final Four for the first time in school history when they face the Big Ten regular-season champion and top-seeded Michigan Wolverines on Sunday in an Elite Eight game in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament. Tennessee brushed aside second-seeded Iowa State 76-62 in a Sweet 16 matchup Friday, while Michigan topped fourth-seeded Alabama 90-77. The Volunteers (25-11), who are tied for fourth in the Southeastern Conference with an 11-7 record, have won three straight and are 6-5 against ranked opponents. The Wolverines (34-3), who won the Big Ten Conference regular season title at 19-1, have won three straight and are 10-2 against ranked opponents.

The game at the United Center in Chicago will tip off at 2:15 p.m. ET. Michigan leads the all-time series 7-5, including the last meeting, a 76-68 victory in the NCAA Tournament on March 19, 2022. Michigan is a 7.5-point favorite in the latest Tennessee vs. Michigan odds, while the over/under in total points scored is 146.5. Before you make any Tennessee vs. Michigan picks, check out what SportsLine college basketball expert Bob Konarski has to say.

Konarski specializes in college basketball and displays extensive knowledge of hundreds of Division I teams. He is a regular feature on SportsLine Discord, co-hosts a weekly X Spaces with fellow CBB expert Tom Casale, and can be seen on “Early Edge” breaking down his college hoops games. He enters the NCAA Elite Eight tournament on a 44-28 run on college basketball picks, returning more than 13 units.

Now, Konarski has his sights set on Tennessee vs. Michigan and just revealed his Elite Eight picks and predictions. You can head over to SportsLine now to see Konarski’s picks. Here are several men’s college basketball odds and men’s college basketball lines for Michigan vs. Tennessee:

Best Tennessee vs. Michigan Predictions

Konarski exceeds the points total (146.5). Both teams have explosive offenses, with Michigan ranking eighth in the nation with 87.5 points per game. The Wolverines also have the fifth-best point differential among NCAA Division I teams at plus-17.7. Tennessee, meanwhile, is 94th in the nation, with 79.3 points. The Volunteers have the 29th best point differential at plus-10.4.

Three players averaged at least 10.1 points for Tennessee, with Ja’Kobi Gillespie leading the way with 18.3 points. Michigan, meanwhile, is led by Yaxel Lendeborg with 14.9 points per game while four Wolverines are averaging at least 14.9 points. Konarski likes the Over there. You can see his picks at SportsLine.

How to make Michigan vs. Tennessee picks

Konarski also found a critical X-factor that has him jumping on one side of the gap. You can only see this pick on SportsLine.

So who wins Michigan against Tennessee in the 2026 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight, and what critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-win comeback? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump to, all from the expert on a 44-28 result on his college basketball spread picks.and find out.