Can Wright State beat Tennessee? Here’s what the experts are saying

Wright State’s Grant Benzinger dribbles around Miami’s Jalen Adaway during their game Tuesday, Nov. 14 at Millett Hall on the Miami University Campus in Oxford. The Miami University Redhawks basketball team defeated the Wright State Raiders 73-67 in overtime. NICK GRAHAM/STAFF

Wright State’s Grant Benzinger dribbles around Miami’s Jalen Adaway during their game Tuesday, Nov. 14 at Millett Hall on the Miami University Campus in Oxford. The Miami University Redhawks basketball team defeated the Wright State Raiders 73-67 in overtime. NICK GRAHAM/STAFF

The Wright State University men’s basketball team takes on the University of Tennessee at 12:40 p.m. Thursday in Dallas.

The WSU Raiders received a No. 14 seed in the tournament and the Tennessee team they’ll face was seeded No. 3. Though that may seem like a big difference, Wright State stands a chance at beating the Volunteers and advancing to the second round of the big dance.

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Odds Shark, a website that focuses on odds, sports betting and college basketball, predicts the game could be a close one. As of Wednesday morning, the website predicts the Raiders will fall to the Volunteers by a score of around 68 to 71.

Here’s what the experts across the news and sports world are saying about Wright State’s odds of winning.

Joe Boozell, NCAA.com writer for CNN

“Let’s get a little nuts. Tennessee is better, but both defenses are stout — there won’t be many possessions in this game, increasing the likelihood of an upset. The Raiders force turnovers on 21 percent of opponents’ possessions; the Vols are prone to coughing it up. Winner: Wright State.”

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Victor Mather, sports reporter for The New York Times

“Worst Offense: Wright State, the No. 14 seed in the South Region, is averaging 102.3 points per 100 possessions, better than more than 100 Division I schools, but worst among those that made the tournament.”

Mike Hartsock, sports director for WHIO-TV

“I’m going to go with the 14th seeded Wright State Raiders to take out Tennessee. It’s happened before, not Wright State but 14s beating 3s has happened. There’s my upset right there. I leave Tuesday for that game so hopefully I don’t come back until Sunday.”

David Jablonski, sports reporter for Dayton Daily News

“I’m going with Tennessee because Wright State has had an amazing season but they didn’t exactly dominate some of the teams in the Horizon League and Tennessee has been a really good team…a really good three seed not just any three seed.”

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Chip Patterson, college basketball writer for CBS Sports

Pick: Wright State over Tennessee.

Terry A. Lambert, site manager for SB Nation’s Rocky Top Talk

“Tennessee’s offensive dry spells are slightly worrisome here, considering Wright State’s defensive abilities. But I think Admiral Schofield is going to be a problem that the Raiders won’t have an answer for. Throw in the fact that Tennessee’s guards are playing perhaps some of their best ball of the year and I think you’ve got a comfortable Volunteer win. Tennessee 70, Wright State 54.”

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