Big 10 rivals square off in Minneapolis as Michigan travels to take on Minnesota. Michigan leads the all time series 71-52, and have won 16 of the last 18 matchups head to head.
Michigan is coming off a 65-52 win at home over #24 Maryland on Saturday. Last Saturday (2/9) they beat #19 Wisconsin 61-52 at home, and last Tuesday (2/12) they lost 75-69 at Penn State.
Minnesota is coming off an 84-63 win at home against Indiana on Saturday. Last Saturday (2/9) they lost at #9 Michigan State 79-55 and last Wednesday (2/13) they lost 62-61 at Nebraska.
On the season, Michigan is 14-12 ATS, 6-4 ATS on the road, and 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games. On the season, Minnesota is 13-13 ATS, 8-9 ATS at home, and 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games.
Bovada has Michigan as 4.5 point favourites with an O/U total of 133.
Minnesota averages 72.6 PPG, 37.5 RPG, 15.3 APG, 4.8 SPG, 4.0 BPG, and 12.3 TPG. As a team they shoot 44.2% from the field, 68.1% from the free throw line, and 32.1% from 3 point range. Defensively they hold teams to 69.5 PPG, 33.7 RPG, 43.8% shooting from the field, and 33.4% shooting from 3 point range.
Amir Coffey leads the Gophers with 15.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 3.1 APG, and 0.8 SPG while shooting 43.9% from the field, 72.8% from the free throw line, and 31.8% from 3 point range. Jordan Murphy is an all around monster averaging 15.0 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 2.7 APG, 0.7 SPG, and 0.9 BPG while shooting 49.8/69.7/23.5. Daniel Oturu chips in 10.8 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.6 BPG, and 56.5% shooting from the field. Gabe Kalscheur (10.5 PPG/2.1 RPG/1.3 APG/40.0% from 3), Dupree McBrayer (9.4 PPG/1.9 RPG/3.1 APG/1.0 SPG), Eric Curry (4.3 PPG/3.2 RPG/1.8 APG/0.8 SPG), and Matz Stockman (2.7 PPG/1.9 RPG/56.3% from the floor) contribute as well.
Key Injuries
NONE
Michigan averages 70.4 PPG, 35.2 RPG, 13.2 APG, 6.4 SPG, 4.3 BPG, and 9.2 TPG. As a team they shoot 45.0% from the field, 69.2% from the free throw line, and 34.3% from 3 point range. Defensively they hold teams to 57.6 PPG, 34.1 RPG, 39.8% shooting from the field, and 30.6% shooting from 3 point range.
Freshman swingman Ignas Brazdeikis leads the way with 14.5 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.8 SPG, and 0.5 BPG while shooting 45.7% from the field, 78.5% from the free throw line, and 37.9% from 3 point range. Charles Matthews chips in 13.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.3 APG, and 1.1 SPG while shooting 45.1/62.6/32.9. Jordan Poole puts up 12.8 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, and 38.0% shooting from 3. Zavier Simpson (9.1 PPG/5.1 RPG/6.0 APG/1.5 SPG), Joe Teske (9.0 PPG/6.4 RPG/0.8 SPG/2.2 BPG), Isaiah Livers (7.5 PPG/4.0 RPG/0.8 SPG/42.9% from 3), and Eli Brooks (2.5 PPG/1.0 RPG/1.4 APG) fill out their rotation with heavy production.
Key Injuries
NONE
Michigan, outside of slip ups to Iowa (who held Michigan to a paltry 24% from 3) and Penn State (who has been playing TOUGH lately), have essentially been running roughshod through the Big 10, typically winning by 10+ points. What makes this interesting is the fact that Minnesota came in to Ann Arbor back in January and damn near beat Michigan, using a late 2nd half run to overcome a 13 point deficit and tie the game only to fall to a last second Charles Matthews jumper.
There’s no question Michigan is a premiere team in the NCAA, and Minnesota has not looked all that impressive as of late outside of dominating an inconsistent Indiana team. They’re one of those squads that is decent at everything, but great at nothing. Their defense is nothing special, and offensively they rely on Amir Coffey and Jordan Murphy to shoulder the load while struggling as a team to shoot the 3 ball.
Michigan has the capability to come at you in any way possible on the offensive end, with 5 or 6 guys capable of taking over a game, all while playing phenomenal defense. Laying the points here with Michigan seems like a no brainer, especially if this number stays under 5.5.
Final Pick: #7 Michigan Wolverines (-4.5)
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