The No. 6 Michigan Wolverines (+1,000 to win the national title) are currently on top of the Big Ten standings, but they’re nowhere near at the level where they can describe their status as safe. The No. 12 Purdue Boilermakers are breathing down their necks, so the Wolverines can’t afford to have any missteps. The No. 24 Maryland Terrapins (+10,000), meanwhile, can gain ground this late in the conference play with a shocker at Ann Arbor this coming weekend.
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Betting Preview for the Maryland Terrapins vs. Michigan Wolverines College Basketball Game on February 16, 2019
Where: Crisler Center, Ann Arbor
When: Saturday, February 16, 2019, 12:00 PM ET
Line: Maryland Terrapins(odds) vs. Michigan Wolverines (odds) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Maryland Terrapins (18-6 Overall / 9-4 Conference)
The Terps are suddenly struggling as of late, though, that’s a bit understandable given the quality of competition in the Big Ten. Still, they need to turn things around if they have plans of winning the conference’s regular-season title. In their most recent outing as of this writing, the Terps defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers away from home, 60-45, which was a nice pick-me-up victory following a 69-61 road loss to the Wisconsin Badgers. One problem the Terps are having is on the turnover battle. They are 13th in the conference with a 20.5 turnover percentage and 14th in the defensive turnover percentage category with just 13.0 percent clip. That should partly explain why the Terps’ offense is down lately, as they have scored just 63.7 points in their last three games compared to 73.8 on the season.
Maryland is 5-3 straight up (SU) and 6-2 against the spread (ATS) on the road this 2018-19 NCAA basketball season.
Betting on the Michigan Wolverines (22-2 Overall / 11-2 Conference)
The Wolverine are trying to build momentum again. After seeing their 17-game winning streak to open the season end in a 64-54 road loss to the Badgers last month, the Wolverines stitched together three-straight victories before getting ambushed by the Iowa Hawkeyes on the road early this month to the tune of a 74-59 score. The Wolverine have won two-straight since, including a 61-52 win in Ann Arbor over Wisconsin to avenge the aforementioned loss to Ethan Happ and company. Speaking of which, the Wolverines have covered the spread in seven of their eight home games thus far this season. Defense is key to the Michigan’s success this season. Per KenPom, Michigan has the second-best defense in the nation with 84.6 points allowed per 100 possessions. The Wolverines are also surrendering just 57.1 points per game this season, second fewest overall.
The Wolverines are 2-0 SU in their last two meetings with Maryland, and are 15-0 SU but just 7-8 ATS when playing from the comforts of the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor so far this season.
Writer’s Prediction
Michigan wins, 67-59.
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