Maryland vs #7 Michigan | 2021 NCAA Basketball Expert Analysis

Even though Michigan suffered its first loss of the season Saturday in a blowout at Minnesota, the Wolverines stayed at No. 7 in the Associated Press Top 25. They return home Tuesday to host Big Ten rival Maryland, and Michigan will be favored on the NCAAB odds.

How to Bet Maryland at Michigan NCAA Basketball Odds & TV Info

When: Tuesday, 7 PM ET
Where: Crisler Center, Ann Arbor
TV: Fox Sports 1
Stream: Fox Sports Go
Radio:com
Opening NCAAB Lines: TBA (Michigan will be favored)

Last Meeting

These schools played on Dec. 31 at Maryland and Michigan won 84-73. The Wolverines shot 58.8 percent from the floor (30-for-51) and 59.3 percent (16-for-27) in the second half of play in the New Year’s Eve victory. Michigan freshman Hunter Dickinson had 26 points and 11 rebounds. Dickinson went 10-for-11 from the floor and 6-for-7 from the charity stripe.

Maryland took its first lead of the game early in the second half before the Wolverines went on an 8-0 run with four straight makes to take a 58-54 advantage on a Dickinson and-one play with just over 13 minutes remaining in the contest. Michigan put together a 9-0 run capped off with a steal and dunk for Franz Wagner to take a 10-point lead, 69-59, and force a Terps timeout with 8:39 left. The game was essentially over at that point.

Why Bet on Maryland? | 2021 NCAA Basketball Expert Analysis

The Terps (8-6) last played Friday and beat Division II school Wingate 100-58. The matchup was announced last Wednesday after Maryland’s originally scheduled game against Nebraska was postponed due to positive COVID-19 tests in the Cornhusker program. Maryland had its lead trimmed to 24-23 before scoring 22 of the next 27 points for an 18-point lead. The Bulldogs were held to 19-of-63 shooting (30.2%), while Maryland shot 60.4%.

Aaron Wiggins scored a game-high 21 points, while five Terrapins finished in double figures. Galin Smith (13) paced the hosts inside, while Darryl Morsell and Hakim Hart added 11 points each.

Wiggins has caught fire recently, scoring at least 12 points in seven of his last eight games. He is averaging 15.9 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists during that span. He had averaged just 9.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in the first six games of the season.

The Terrapins picked up a massive road win at then-No. 12 Illinois in their most recent Big Ten outing, defeating the Illini, 66-63. Morsell scored a career-high 19 points in the victory, while sophomore Donta Scott added 16 points and eight rebounds.

Maryland has pieced together two of the most impressive victories in the Big Ten, defeating both No. 6 Wisconsin and No. 12 Illinois on the road. Maryland and Texas are the only schools in the country with a pair of road wins against ranked opponents. It also marks the first time since 2003-04 that the Terps have picked up a pair of road wins. Maryland is 4-1 in its last five road games against ranked teams dating back to 2018-19.

The Terps are in the midst of a nine-game stretch that includes seven matchups against teams ranked in the Associated Press Top-25. Four of those seven matchups have been or are slated to be against top-10 teams, in addition to six in the top-16.

One of Maryland’s top players, Eric Ayala, has missed the last two games with a groin injury. He could return to action on Tuesday, according to coach Mark Turgeon.

Why Bet on Michigan? | 2021 NCAA Basketball Expert Analysis

The Wolverines (11-1) were knocked off 75-57 on Saturday at then-No. 23 Minnesota. Playing without an injured Eli Brooks (right foot strain), Michigan’s cold shooting — a season-low 39.3 percent — and season-high-tying 20 turnovers cost the Wolverines despite cutting their deficit to six points in the second half. U-M was unable to get over the hump, and the Gophers — 11-0 at home this season with four wins over ranked foes — pulled away for the lopsided victory.

“We were ready to go,” Michigan coach Juwan Howard said. “We were just playing a team that played better and Minnesota was very good defensively and offensively. Yes, our defense wasn’t bad at all. We made them shoot for 4-of-18 from 3. (But) when you turn the ball over 20 times as a team … they scored 23 points off of turnovers, it’s just hard to win.”

Starting for the first time at Michigan in place of Brooks, senior guard Chaundee Brown Jr., led the Wolverines with 14 points and pulled down three rebounds, while senior guard Isaiah Livers added 11 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore forward Franz Wagner nearly had his third double-double in four games as he finished with eight points and nine rebounds, and graduate transfer guard Mike Smith was held scoreless but posted a career-best 10 assists.

Hunter Dickinson, easily the Big Ten’s top freshman, was held to single digits for the first time this season by the Golden Gophers. He took only five shots while scoring nine points and also made five turnovers. Several opponents have tried to slow down Dickinson with double-teams, but to no avail. However, this time was different as he couldn’t solve Minnesota’s method.

“What I saw was there were times where he was trying to make plays that were not there,” Howard said of Dickinson’s struggles. “This is a good learning tool for him to go back, watch film and get his input on what he saw out there on the floor and how he can make better decisions with the basketball. Every game is a learning experience.”

Dickinson played only 23 minutes — his fewest since moving into starting lineup — and sat for a long stretch in both halves.