Could be a bit of a trap game for No. 7 Michigan on Thursday as the Wolverines visit a so-so Minnesota side. Why a trap? UM has a home mega-showdown with rival Michigan State on Sunday that could help determine the Big Ten regular-season champion and it could also affect their odds to win March Madness this year. MyBookie Sportsbook oddsmakers still have Michigan Wolverines solidly favored in the college basketball odds for Thursday.
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How to Bet Michigan vs Minnesota NCAAB Odds & Game Info
The man, @Xaviersimpson3, aka Captain Hook, checked in with @BTNMikeHall tonight.
Watch the @umichbball PG’s interview below. pic.twitter.com/YmZ3d4GbF4 — Michigan On BTN (@MichiganOnBTN) 19 de febrero de 2019
- When: Thursday, 7 PM ET
- Where: Williams Arena, Minneapolis
- TV: ESPN
- Live Stream: WatchESPN
- NCAAB Odds: Michigan Wolverines -5 (Total 133)
Season Series
Second and last scheduled meeting. On Jan. 22 in Ann Arbor, Minnesota Golden nearly upset then-No. 5 Michigan but fell short 59-57. On the final possession with the game tied, UM’s Iggy Brazdeikis drove to the basket and had his shot blocked by Eric Curry, but the ball bounced over to Charles Matthews to the left of the rim. His shot went high in the air and dropped through with no time remaining.
After a long review, officials ruled the ball was released in time. Gabe Kalscheur’s 3-pointer tied it at 57 with 30.9 seconds remaining, capping a 10-0 run for the Golden Gophers. Jordan Murphy scored 15 points with 11 rebounds for Minnesota, and Brazdeikis had 11 rebounds to go with his 18 points for Michigan.
Why Bet on Michigan?
The Wolverines were 65-52 home winners over No. 24 Maryland on Saturday. Michigan had only six turnovers in the game and none in the second half. However, UM’s b 7-for-26 showing from 3-point range Saturday leaves plenty of room for improvement.
Senior Charles Matthews led the Wolverines with 14 points and six rebounds. The victory was Michigan’s sixth over a ranked opponent and kept U-M undefeated at home. In addition to Matthews’ 14 points, freshman Ignas Brazdeikis added 13 points and junior Zavier Simpson scored 12. Simpson was the floor general for the Wolverines, dishing out eight assists. As a team, the Wolverines forced 16 Maryland turnovers to notch their 20th game this season in which they have forced 10 or more.
Since going 5-for-11 (45.4%) at the free throw line at Wisconsin (Jan. 19), Michigan has shot 76.0 percent over its last eight games. For the season, U-M shoots 68.9 percent. Jon Teske leads the Big Ten in blocked shots (2.2). He has had at least one block in 25 games and in his last 21 straight.
The Wolverines’ 20-plus wins (23) is the ninth time under John Beilein and the 30th in program history. In fact, Beilein owns two of U-M’s four 30-plus win seasons in program history, including the program record of 33 set last season.
U-M’s 10-plus Big Ten wins (12) gives Beilein his fourth straight season of 10 or more. He has reached double-digit wins in seven of the last eight seasons. Those seven seasons are the most of any U-M coach in program history — passing Steve Fisher (6), Bill Frieder (6) and Johnny Orr (6).
The Wolverines lead the all-time series vs. Minnesota, 94-66, winning the last three meetings and 12 of the last 13 games. Despite losing last year at Williams Arena (83-78), the Wolverines are 8-2 in their last 10 games in Minneapolis.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 70.38
- Field Goal Percentage: 45.01
- Three-Point Percentage: 34.31
- Free Throw Percentage: 69.16
- Total Rebounds: 35.23
Defense
- Total Score: 57.58
- Field Goal Percentage: 39.76
- Three-Point Percentage: 30.55
- Free Throw Percentage: 65.57
- Total Rebounds: 34.08
Why Bet on Minnesota?
The Gophers snapped a four-game losing streak with Saturday’s 84-63 rout of Indiana. The worst 3-point shooting team in the Big Ten, Minnesota made a season-high 12 shots in 22 attempts from long range en route to its largest winning margin in 33 conference games since an 89-67 victory over Rutgers on Dec. 3, 2017. Indiana was a season-worst 2-for-17 from deep.
The Gophers put on a clinic from three‐point range, as they knocked down 12‐of‐22 attempts for 54.5 percent. It tied for the third‐most three‐pointers in a Big Ten game in program history. The last time Minnesota had 12 makes from deep in a Big Ten game was versus Iowa on March 7, 2010.
Jordan Murphy recorded his 18th double‐double of the season (63rd career), as he dominated play with game‐high totals of 23 points and 11 rebounds in 30 minutes. Murphy connected on 7‐of‐11 field goal attempts and made 9‐of‐13 free throw attempts. Murphy now has double‐doubles in eight of his past nine Big Ten games. Five of his rebounds came on the offensive end of the floor, and he added three assists.
With 1,672 career points, Murphy is eighth on the program’s all-time list with a chance to catch Willie Burton (1,800 points) for second place. Murphy is one of just 14 players in Big Ten history with 1,000 or more rebounds, and he ranks second all‐time. Murphy passed Purdue’s Joe Barry Carroll (1,148 rebounds during 1976‐80) for second place on Jan. 27, and Ohio State’s Jerry Lucas (1959‐62) is the all‐time leader with 1,411. Murphy is one of just nine players in Big Ten history to record 1,650+ points and 1,000+ rebounds.
Amir Coffey finished with 18 points, a game‐high seven assists, and six rebounds in 34 minutes. Coffey, who leads the Gophers with an average of 16.8 points per game in Big Ten play, made 5‐of‐12 field goals (3‐of‐6 from beyond the arc) and 5‐of‐8 free throws. Coffey leads the Gophers with 22 double‐digit scoring games this season, including 12 times in 15 Big Ten games. Center Daniel Oturu leads all Big Ten freshmen players in rebounding (7.3 rpg), field goal percentage (56.8 percent) and blocks (1.6 bpg).
Minnesota ranks 10th in the country in free throw attempts, having gone to the line 639 times this season. Murphy has a team-high 195 free throw attempts and is shooting 69.7 percent from the line, while Coffey is second with 151 and is shooting 72.8 percent.
Minnesota improved to 12‐2 at Williams Arena this season and 13‐0 when it scores 70 points or more.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 72.58
- Field Goal Percentage: 44.23
- Three-Point Percentage: 32.13
- Free Throw Percentage: 68.08
- Total Rebounds: 37.50
Defense
- Total Score: 69.46
- Field Goal Percentage: 43.82
- Three-Point Percentage: 33.40
- Free Throw Percentage: 68.64
- Total Rebounds: 33.73
Michigan vs Minnesota NCAAB Betting Trends
- Over is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings in Minnesota
- Road team is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings
- Michigan is 12-5 ATS in its last 17 games on the road
- Michigan is 13-4 SU in its last 17 games on the road
- The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Michigan’s last 9 games
- Minnesota is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
- Minnesota is 15-2 SU in its last 17 games at home
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Minnesota’s last 7 games at home
Expert NCAAB Betting Prediction
Take the points – Gophers may win outright.
