Michigan has its sights set on cutting down some nets this weekend and next month, but the Wolverines’ first order of business is taking care of bitter rival Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament on Friday.
The Buckeyes clawed their way to the quarterfinals with a three-point victory over Iowa on Thursday, but they’ll need to be much sharper if they want to provide a jolt to the No. 3 Wolverines ahead of the Big Dance.
Michigan is a lofty 12.5-point favorite over Ohio State for this 12 p.m. ET tip.
Michigan vs. Ohio State odds, prediction
After losing six of 10 at the end of January and into early February, Ohio State rescued its campaign with a three-game winning streak to close out the regular season. The Buckeyes’ win over Iowa on Thursday should be enough to earn them a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
That’s a big plus for Jake Diebler’s team, as the bookmakers aren’t giving the Buckeyes much hope on Friday afternoon.
And for good reason.
Not only does Michigan boast one of the best records in the country at 29-2, but the Wolverines have done so against a monstrous schedule. Only Alabama, Kansas, and Auburn played a tougher batch of opponents than Michigan this season, and those teams each lost at least eight games.
Michigan is in rarefied air this season, with only Duke sitting above the Wolverines in KenPom’s power rankings.
The Wolverines are elite on both sides of the ball, and they’ve proven to be a matchup nightmare for the Buckeyes this season.
Ohio State did earn a cover in its first meeting with Michigan, but that was as a 16.5-point underdog in a 12-point loss. The Wolverines paid that back in the next meeting by pasting the Buckeyes, 82-61, in Columbus.
Betting on College Basketball?
The problem for the Buckeyes is their strength, a top-20 offense per KenPom and Bart Torvik, is no match for Michigan’s elite defense. Meanwhile, the Wolverines also boast a top-5 offense in the nation, and they have picked apart Ohio State’s pedestrian defense.
Anything can happen in these conference tournaments, and perhaps the schedule spot proves tricky since Michigan has bigger fish to fry, but this looks like it could be a rout in favor of the Wolverines.
The Play: Michigan -12.5 (-110, bet365 Sportsbook)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.