ESPN celebrities pick Tennessee basketball to win 2024 national title

The NCAA Tournament will tipoff on Thursday.

Michigan State and Mississippi State is the first game slated on Thursday. Tipoff between the Spartans and Bulldogs is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. EDT and will be televised by CBS.

No. 2 seed Tennessee (24-8, 14-4 SEC) will also open NCAA Tournament first-round play on Thursday.

The Vols will play No. 15 seed Saint Peter’s (19-13, 12-8 MAAC) at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Tipoff between Tennessee and the Peacocks is slated for 9:20 p.m. EDT and will be televised by TNT.

IT’S BRACKET MADNESS: Enter USA TODAY’s NCAA tournament bracket contest for a chance at $1 million prize.

Ahead of the NCAA Tournament, ESPN released bracket projections from on-air celebrities. Three celebrities from ESPN picked Tennessee to win the 2024 national championship and are listed below.

Matt Barrie

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Final Four teams: Tennessee, Kentucky, UConn, North Carolina

National championship game: Tennessee defeats UConn

Alyssa Lang

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Final Four teams: Tennessee, Houston, Auburn, Arizona

National championship game: Tennessee defeats Auburn

Ron Slay

George Walker IV/USA TODAY Network

Final Four teams: Tennessee, Houston, Auburn, North Carolina

National championship game: Tennessee defeats Auburn

Most picked national champion

Steven Erler-USA TODAY Sports

UConn — 24.6 percent

Houston — 13.8 percent

Purdue — 10.2 percent

North Carolina — 9.5 percent

Arizona — 5.7 percent

Iowa State — 4.4 percent

Tennessee — 4.4 percent

Kentucky — 3.9 percent

Auburn — 3.1 percent

USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll top 25 rankings ahead of NCAA Tournament

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