The No. 13 Michigan Wolverines have won seven straight games, with a 4-2 spread record in the span’s six ‘board’ battles. John Beilein’s squad travels for its first road contest in Big Ten Conference play with Thursday’s matchup against the No. 12 Indiana Hoosiers, who are 5-0 ATS in their first five ‘board’ affairs at Assembly Hall.
Sportsbooks opened Indiana as a 7.5 point favorite, while first
setting the ‘total’ at 139.5. Early wagers on Michigan and the ‘over’ saw
the numbers move at some NCAA basketball betting shops to seven and 140.5, respectively.
Hoosiers upset No. 2 Ohio State
Indiana ended December with Saturday’s 74-70 victory as a
five-point home dog against the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Hoosiers shot
45.3 percent from the field, including 5-of-13 from three-point land.
Indiana’s Victor Oladipo and Christian Watford grabbed six boards
each, while uniting for 25 points. Oladipo added a team-high three steals
en route to logging one of his squad’s four blocks.
The contest’s combined 144 points jumped above the ‘total’ of 139.5, lifting the ‘over’ to 3-0 in the Hoosiers’ last three ‘board’ games. Indiana allowed the Buckeyes to hit 49 percent of their field buckets, while
being outrebounded, 34-26.
Wolverines hold off Minnesota
Michigan’s latest victory came in Sunday’s 61-56 triumph while installed as a
six-point home favorite against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The
Wolverines were held to 38.5 percent shooting from the floor, while sinking
15-of-23 free throws.
Wolverines guard Trey Burke piled in a season-high 27 points,
hitting 8-of-11 from the field. Burke’s mates Jordan Morgan and Evan
Smotrycz united for 21 rebounds, leading Michigan to edge out the Golden Gophers
in boards, 34-26.
The tight affair’s combined 117 points dipped below the NCAA Basketball odds ‘total’ of
129, ending an 8-0 ‘over’ streak in the Wolverines prior eight ‘board’
duels. Michigan’s Stu Douglas logged the team’s sole nine points from the
bench, draining 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.
Back the ‘over’ between these rivals
Thursday’s matchup is scheduled for 9 p.m. (ET), with ESPN2 providing
the national television coverage.
I am adding the 'Over' to my NCAA basketball picks tonight, agreeing with some of the
early betting ‘steam.’ The ‘over’ is 5-1 in the last six meetings between
these foes, while cashing at 4-0 in the last four battles Indiana has hosted.
Three-point buckets should help the combined points in this
contest leap upward with the Big 10 Conference’s top two shooters beyond the
arc squaring off here. Michigan’s Evan Smotrycz and Indiana’s Jordan
Hulls have hit triple’s at 54.5 and 54.4 percent, respectively. The duo
is followed by Indiana’s Christian Watford, who ranks fourth with 50 percent of
his shots from beyond the arc connecting.
Michigan’s Trey Burke not only reached season-high scoring in his
last game, but has also enters Thursday’s battle as one of the Big 10’s top
three in assists (5 APG). Hoosiers forward Cody Zeller has had a notable
freshman season, connecting field buckets at a conference-high of 64.3 percent.
Indiana has hit 73.3 percent of its free throws, ranking the
Hoosiers third in the Big 10. Michigan may find itself fouling late,
which should boost the points even more for ‘over’ backers.
The
Wolverines have allowed 73.4 PPG in their last four games away from home, which
could set up Burke and Co. in for a tough night after holding foes to 56.4 PPG
in their five straight home games. Michigan was crushed by the Hoosiers
last January at Assembly Hall, 80-61, with the Wolverines lit up for 67.4
percent shooting by Indiana.
My Pick: Take the Over