Florida State-Michigan would be a great football matchup … but it’s also Saturday’s West Region final between the No. 9 Seminoles, who definitely weren’t supposed to be here, and the No. 3 Wolverines, the Big Ten Tournament champions. MyBookie oddsmakers expect UM to advance, as they lead the March Madness lines vs. Michigan.
The Wolverines needed a miracle against Houston in Round 2 to even make the Sweet 16 but had no trouble in dispatching No. 7 Texas A&M on Thursday 99-72. The Wolverines shot 61.9 percent from the field and were 14-of-24 on 3-pointers. Eight players made at least one 3-pointer, which set a new single-game NCAA record.
Michigan (31-7) dominated from start to finish – hitting 10 3-pointers in the first half when they led by 29 points — and extending their winning streak to 12 games. Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman scored 24 points, Moe Wagner added 21 points and Charles Matthews had 18 points as third-seeded Michigan had five players in double figures. In the opening 20 minutes, seven different players made 10 of their 16 threes, while Michigan also forced 10 turnovers and held the Aggies to just 12-of-32 from the field. The score was 52-28 at the break, and the rest of the game was a formality.
It was Michigan’s best offensive game of the season and it came against a defense that completely dominated No. 2 seed North Carolina on Sunday in Charlotte. Over the past two seasons, Michigan is 13-1 during postseason play, and its win Thursday was its 31st of the season, tying a single-season school record. It’s their third trip to the Elite Eight in six years.
Michigan’s betting record is incredible this time of year in certain situations. After routing Texas A&M as the betting favorite, the Wolverines are now 19-1 SU and 13-6-1 ATS all-time as favorites behind coach John Beilein on neutral courts in March and April.
U-M and Florida State have only played three times in history, with the Wolverines holding a 2-1 edge in the series. The last meeting was an 82-80 Michigan win at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off on Nov. 22, 2013.
FSU vs. Michigan 2018 March Madness Lines for Elite 8
When: Saturday, 8:49 PM ET Where: Staples Center, L.A. TV: TBS Radio: 103.1 FM (FSU) / 950 AM (Michigan) Opening March Madness Lines: Michigan -4.5 (143).@FSUHoops ➡ Elite 8#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/7jAaMCPT7L
— FSU Seminoles (@Seminoles) March 23, 2018
Latest March Madness Lines Trends
- Seminoles are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 neutral site games.
- Seminoles are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up win.
- FSU is 4-10 ATS in their last 14 vs. Big Ten.
- Michigan is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.
- Wolverines are 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Michigan is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games after scoring more than 90 points in their previous game.
- Wolverines are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games following a ATS win.
Why Bet on FSU’s March Madness Lines?
FSU beat No. 8 Missouri by 13 in Round 1, upset No. 1 Xavier 75-70 in Round 2 and then knocked off No. 4 Gonzaga on Thursday in the Sweet 16 75-60. It helped that Zags star Killian Tillie was ruled out after an injury suffered in practice this week. Terance Mann scored 18 points and the ninth-seeded Seminoles advanced to the Elite Eight for just the third time in school history. Mann was the only double-digit scorer for the Seminoles, but 10 other guys scored. The Zags had an emerging star in guard Zach Norvell Jr., a dependable big-man in forward Johnathan Williams and a sharpshooter in Tillie. Only Tillie didn’t play, after suffering a hip pointer in Tuesday’s practice, and Williams found himself in foul trouble and Florida State bottled Norvell. Florida State had nine blocks and eight steals and were able to score 16 points off turnovers. The Seminole defense held Gonzaga to a season-low 60 points and 33.9 percent shooting, including a 5 for 20 performance on three-pointers. FSU forced Norvell into a 4-of-16 performance, held Williams to eight points and generally frustrated the Zags into bad shots. Gonzaga had won 16 straight games. Florida State is in the Elite Eight for the first time since 1993 with a chance at its first Final Four berth since 1972 – which was just down Figueroa Street at the recently demolished Los Angeles Sports Arena. Not bad for a team that went 9-9 in ACC play and lost its conference tournament opener. The Seminoles are the deepest team in the tournament as they field 10 players averaging more than 10 minutes per game. The energy provided by Florida State’s deep bench is proving the difference-maker in this Big Dance in beating three straight higher seeds. FSU has nine guys averaging between 6.5 and 12.9 points per game. It’s a tough club to prepare for. In addition, FSU is now 9-2 SU and ATS as a single-digit underdog on a neutral court since 2006. “We’re a team that operates with the philosophy that we have to win games by committee. This has been our philosophy for a number of years,” head coach Leonard Hamilton said. “Our guys feel that’s the best way for us to operate, and they’re all able to contribute offensively and defensively because of that philosophy.”Why Bet on Michigan’s March Madness Lines?
The Wolverines needed a miracle against Houston in Round 2 to even make the Sweet 16 but had no trouble in dispatching No. 7 Texas A&M on Thursday 99-72. The Wolverines shot 61.9 percent from the field and were 14-of-24 on 3-pointers. Eight players made at least one 3-pointer, which set a new single-game NCAA record.
Michigan (31-7) dominated from start to finish – hitting 10 3-pointers in the first half when they led by 29 points — and extending their winning streak to 12 games. Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman scored 24 points, Moe Wagner added 21 points and Charles Matthews had 18 points as third-seeded Michigan had five players in double figures. In the opening 20 minutes, seven different players made 10 of their 16 threes, while Michigan also forced 10 turnovers and held the Aggies to just 12-of-32 from the field. The score was 52-28 at the break, and the rest of the game was a formality.
It was Michigan’s best offensive game of the season and it came against a defense that completely dominated No. 2 seed North Carolina on Sunday in Charlotte. Over the past two seasons, Michigan is 13-1 during postseason play, and its win Thursday was its 31st of the season, tying a single-season school record. It’s their third trip to the Elite Eight in six years.
Michigan’s betting record is incredible this time of year in certain situations. After routing Texas A&M as the betting favorite, the Wolverines are now 19-1 SU and 13-6-1 ATS all-time as favorites behind coach John Beilein on neutral courts in March and April.
U-M and Florida State have only played three times in history, with the Wolverines holding a 2-1 edge in the series. The last meeting was an 82-80 Michigan win at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off on Nov. 22, 2013.
