Tennessee vs. Virginia Best Bet: Will Vols Shut Down Thijs De Ridder, Cavaliers in Sunday's Second Round Clash?
The Tennessee Volunteers will take on the Virginia Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon in what could be the most physical matchup of the Round of 32. Can Thijs De Ridder grab rebounds in this defensive battle, or will he be overwhelmed by the Vols size? McBets has a top prop pick in this Tennessee vs. Virginia prediction and best bet for Sunday, March 22nd.
McBets - March 22, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT
4 Minute ReadTennessee vs. Virginia Prop Pick: Fading Thijs De Ridder Props in March Madness Second Round Showdown
Thijs De Ridder's rebound prop is a matchup-driven play in this Round of 32 showdown between Virginia and Tennessee. When targeting rebound unders, the goal is to find limited opportunity environments — and this spot checks every box.
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Tennessee vs. Virginia Odds
Tennessee vs. Virginia Date, Time, and Where to Watch
- Date: Sunday, March 22nd, 2026
- Time: 6:10 PM ET
- Where to Watch: TNT
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Tennessee vs. Virginia Prediction
De Ridder has gone under this line in 9 of his past 11 games, averaging just 5.3 rebounds per contest during that stretch. That recent trend suggests this number is already slightly inflated relative to his typical production, especially when facing strong rebounding teams.
The matchup against Tennessee is the key driver. The Volunteers allow the 2nd fewest rebounds in the country to opposing teams, consistently controlling the glass with strong positioning and physicality. Their defensive structure limits second-chance opportunities and keeps opposing forwards from accumulating easy boards.
That trend has been extremely consistent at De Ridder’s position. 17 of the past 19 opposing forwards have gone under this rebound line against Tennessee — a clear indicator that this isn’t just a one-off pattern, but a structural strength of their defense.
Game environment also plays a role. Tournament games at this stage tend to slow down, with both teams emphasizing half-court execution and defensive discipline. Fewer possessions and more efficient shot selection often lead to fewer missed shots — and fewer rebound opportunities overall.
For De Ridder to go over this number, he would likely need either extended minutes with unusually high rebound chances or an outlier performance against one of the toughest rebounding defenses in the field. Based on recent form and matchup data, neither scenario is the most probable outcome.
Tennessee vs. Virginia Prop Pick
- 1 Unit Pick: Thijs De Ridder Under 6.5 Rebounds (-134) Check out the best odds at BetMGM Sportsbook
When you combine De Ridder’s recent under trend with Tennessee’s elite rebounding defense and a slower tournament pace, the path clearly points toward limited opportunity on the glass.
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