Michigan Wolverines vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers Preview
Where: Verizon Center— Washington, District of Columbia
When: Saturday, March 11, 2017, 1:00 PM ET
Line: Michigan Wolverines vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
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Betting on the Michigan Wolverines (22-11, 10-8 Big Ten)
Just two days after its airplane scare, Michigan gave its NCAA Tournament chances a big lift with a 74-70 overtime win versus No. 13 Purdue in what was a neck-to-neck quarterfinals match that featured 14 ties and 17 lead changes.
The Wolverines rode behind a 26-point, eight-rebound and three-block performance from D.J. Wilson who was one of four starters to score in double figures for head coach Joen Beilein’s side. Zack Irvin also pitched in 13 points, including the game-tying layup that forced the extra session.
They can now punch a ticket to the Big Ten tourney finals with another win, this time against No. 4 seed Minnesota, which defeated a visiting Michigan team in OT, 83-78, on Feb. 19. Prior to that though, the Wolverines have won the last nine games (6-3 ATS) in the series.
All Michigan starters registered at least 10 points in the aforementioned meeting last month, with Wilson and Derrick Walton Jr. leading the way with 16 points apiece.
Betting on the Minnesota Golden Gophers (24-8, 11-7 Big Ten)
An unintentional smack to the face early in the second half against Michigan State forced Reggie Lynch to leave the court, and a handful logically assumed that he was done for the night until the junior center returned and inspired a game-changing 8-0 run for the Golden Gophers, who eventually outlasted the Spartans, 63-58, in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Conference Tournament.
The conference’s Defensive Player of the Year scored a team-leading 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting, corralled four rebounds along with five rejections. Teammates Amir Coffey and Jordan Murphy poured in 13 and 10 points, respectively, together with 13 rebounds from the latter.
Minny, however, received a quiet effort from its top star in Nate Mason (15.5 PPG). He was held to just 10 points on 2-of-14 shooting. The team will need more from him especially with the status of backcourt mate, Akeem Springs, in doubt after suffering a leg injury in the previous round.
Mason went 3-of-13 from the field for 13 points, along with eight assists, in the lone meeting with Michigan this season.
Writer’s Prediction
Minnesota advances to the Big Ten tournament finals, 79-74.
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