The Michigan Wolverines (+1,000 to win the national title) are in a neck-and-neck race with the Michigan State Spartans (+30,000) for ultimate leadership in the Big Ten standings. A win this coming Wednesday against the Minnesota Golden Gophers will help the Wolverines achieve that goal. As for Minnesota, it will look for its third win against a ranked team this season to bolster their March Madness resume.
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Betting Preview for the Michigan Wolverines vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers College Basketball Game on February 21, 2019
Where: Williams Arena, Minneapolis
When: Wednesday, February 21 2019, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Michigan Wolverines (odds) vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers (odds) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Michigan Wolverines (23-3 Overall / 12-3 Conference)
After getting upset by the Penn State Nittany Lions last week, Michigan shook off that upset loss and rebounded with a big home win over the No. 24 Maryland Terrapins on Saturday, 65-52. As what the score of that game suggests, the Wolverines used a suffocating brand of defense to take the air out of Maryland’s attack. The Terps went just 20-for-55 from the floor for an atrocious 36.4 percent shooting. Although Maryland out-rebounded Michigan, 39-30, the Terrapins committed 16 turnovers to just six by the Wolverines. It’s not that shocking of a defensive performance, however, for the Wolverines, who have often put opposing teams’ offenses on a chokehold. After all, they are third in the nation with just 57.6 points allowed per game. The Golden Gophers are aware of that, as they were held down to only 40.4 percent shooting from the field in a 59-57 loss in Ann Arbor last month. The Wolverines, however, needed a buzzer-beating jumper from Charles Matthews to win that game, as they, too, were horrible on offense, recording a paltry 33.9 percent from the field.
Michigan is 10-5 against the spread (ATS) in conference games this season.
Betting on the Minnesota Golden Gophers (17-9 Overall / 7-8 Conference)
The Golden Gophers finally ended a four-game losing skid over the weekend, as they beat the Indiana Hoosiers at home, 84-63. The manner with which the Golden Gophers won that game was a bit surprising. For one, they entered the game as just a 3.5-point underdog. Senior forward Jordan Murphy paced Minnesota with 23 points on 7-for-11 shooting to go with 11 rebounds and three assists. It was his second double-double game in a row, as he also had 19 points and 11 rebounds in last week’s 62-61 road loss to the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Even though Michigan presents a tough challenge to Minnesota, Murphy proved he can keep in step with the Wolverines when he had 15 points and 11 boards in the first meeting this season with them. Rebounding will be a big key in the rematch with Michigan for the Golden Gophers. In the previous matchup, Minnesota had 43 rebounds to just 33 by the Wolverines, though, they also need to cut down on their errors, as mentioned earlier.
Minnesota is 4-2 ATS this season as a road underdog.
Writer’s Prediction
Michigan wins, 68-63.
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