Tennessee vs. ETSU line, picks: Advanced computer college basketball model releases selections for Sunday matchup

SportsLine's projection model generated selections for Sunday's matchup between the Tennessee Volunteers and the East Tennessee State Buccaneers

SportsLine Staff

The Tennessee Volunteers host the East Tennessee State Buccaneers in a battle between in-state foes at noon ET on Sunday. Tennessee is favored by 16.5 points at Caesars Sportsbook, while the Over-Under is set at 136 (see up-to-date odds for every game this week on our college basketball odds page). 

Before making any Tennessee vs. ETSU picks, you NEED to check out the college basketball predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. Over the past five years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of $2,200 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen HUGE returns.

The model knows Tennessee has the talent and athleticism advantage in this matchup. That particularly manifests on defense. The Volunteers ranked in the top five nationally in defensive efficiency in 2020-21, headlined by top-tier marks in effective field goal percentage allowed (46.3 percent) and turnover creation rate (22.8 percent). Tennessee also posted a 14.1 percent block rate last season, and top-10 recruit Kennedy Chandler scored 20 points in his debut, leading a potentially explosive SEC offense.

The model also knows ETSU is a solid mid-major team. The Buccaneers ranked as a top-three team on both offense and defense in the Southern Conference last season. ETSU is an excellent offensive rebounding team, grabbing more than 30 percent of their own missed shots, and the Buccaneers lead the Southern Conference in that area last season. ETSU is also a strong three-point shooting team, burying 34.9 percent of attempts in 2020-21, and the Buccaneers cause havoc defensively with a 19.8 percent turnover creation rate and a 10.6 percent steal rate last season. 

Now, it has set its sights on Tennessee vs. ETSU. We can tell you the model is leaning over the total, and it also says one side of the spread hits in 70 percent of simulations! You ABSOLUTELY need to see it before locking in any college basketball picks.

Who wins Tennessee vs. ETSU? And which side of the spread hits in 70 percent of simulations? ... Join SportsLine right now to find out which side of the Tennessee vs. ETSU spread you should be all over Sunday, all from the model on a roll on college basketball picks!