Published Mar 12, 11:42pm ET by
Gabriel Kozlow - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Mar 12, 11:42pm ET
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Updated Mar 12, 11:43pm ET
The Big Ten Quarterfinals are underway as the Michigan Wolverines take on the Ohio State Buckeyes at the United Center. Michigan finished first in the Big Ten, while Ohio State enters as the No. 8 seed after beating Iowa to advance.
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| MICHIGAN WOLVERINES | -13.5 (-105) |
| OHIO STATE BUCKEYES | +13.5 (-105) |
Ohio State’s March Madness odds are still on the bubble, which means the Buckeyes are under pressure to make a strong Big Ten Tournament run to improve their chances. The problem is that they face a tough Wolverines team and enter this matchup as heavy underdogs.
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The Buckeyes have not had a bad season at all, posting a 21-11 record and going 12-8 in conference play. They are riding a four-game winning streak and will look to rely on their efficient shooting and high-scoring ability. They will be led by Bruce Thornton, their primary scorer, who is averaging 19.9 PPG.
The Wolverines are having an outstanding season and look to maintain their form with the goal of further improving their March Madness odds. They are 29-2 overall and 19-1 in the Big Ten, with their only two losses coming against the Badgers and the Blue Devils.
Michigan ranks in the Top 10 in scoring margin, averaging 82.5 PPG while allowing 68.4 PPG to opponents. The Wolverines are also a strong rebounding team, ranking in the Top 20 in rebounding margin against their rivals. They will rely on their top two players, Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson, to carry the team into the semifinals.
Michigan already has excellent March Madness odds and is projected to be a top seed, so this game serves as a good test for them. The Wolverines are listed as -13.5 favorites with an over/under of 154.5. The moneyline is -900 for Michigan and +600 for Ohio State.
Ohio State is not playing badly at all, so this is a tough pick to make. However, we expect Michigan to overwhelm its rival and cover the -13.5 spread.
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Pick
Michigan Wolverines -13.5
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