The Michigan Wolverines picked up right where they left off Sunday, beating the Wisconsin Badgers as 1-point road underdogs after not playing for three weeks due to pandemic protocols.
The win improved the Wolverines' record to 14-1 (12-3 ATS) for the season and 9-1 in the Big Ten. Next, they welcome a Rutgers Scarlet Knights team that has won five of its last six games. Can Michigan cover the nearly double-digit spread?
Find out in our college basketball free picks and predictions for Rutgers vs. Michigan on Thursday, February 18, with tipoff scheduled for 9 p.m. ET.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Michigan Wolverines betting preview
Injuries
Rutgers: No injuries to report.
Michigan: Jace Howard G (Questionable).
Find our latest NCAA basketball injury reports.
Betting trend to know
Michigan is 4-0 ATS in its last four games as a home favorite. Find more NCAA betting trends for Rutgers vs. Michigan.
NCAAB sharp money and line movement report
By Patrick EversonPointsBet USA opened Michigan -9.5 and is at -9 as of 6 p.m. ET, about three hours before tipoff. "Currently, 78 percent of bets and 81 percent of the handle on the Wolverines," PointsBet's Wyatt Yearout said. The total saw a slight move, as well, from 136 to 136.5, with 83 percent of bets/70 percent of money on the Over.
Check out the full line movement for this gameAgainst the spread (ATS) pick
There wasn’t much rust to knock off for Michigan in its win over the Badgers, as the Wolverines still look like the class of the Big Ten this season. This Wolverines team does it at both ends of the floor, putting up 78.9 points per game on offense while ranking third in the county in opponent field goal percentage. In fact, they're the only team besides Gonzaga and Baylor that rank in the Top-10 in adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency according to KenPom ratings.
While Rutgers puts up 71.8 points per game, they just aren't a clutch scoring team and that may not be enough against Michigan. Rutgers doesn’t shoot well from 3-point range, hitting just 32.5 percent of their attempts, and are one of the worst free throw shooting teams in the country. That doesn’t bode well against this strong defensive Wolverines team.
In the end, that will bite them in the butt as they try to keep up with the Michigan Machine. This is Michigan’s first home game in a long time and they’ll be hungry in this one. Lay the points with the favorite.
PREDICTION: Michigan -9 (-110)
Over/Under pick
As noted, Michigan really gets after it on defense. They will always have a hand in your face and they’re going to make life tough on a Rutgers team that has shot less than 30 percent from 3-point range in three of its last four games, while scoring 68 points or fewer in eight of its last 10.
While the Wolverines were impressive in their win over Wisconsin, Rutgers is an underrated defensive team and it may still take another game or two for Michigan to get the offense 100 percent clicking once again.
PREDICTION: Under 136.5 (-110)
Rutgers vs Michigan betting card
- Michigan -9 (-110)
- Under 136.5 (-110)
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