The Michigan Wolverines go for a second straight win when they take on the host Rutgers Scarlet Knights in a key Big Ten battle on Thursday night. Michigan is coming off a home win over Michigan State on Saturday that snapped a two-game losing streak and is among four teams tied for fifth place in the Big Ten college basketball standings.
Rutgers ended a three-game losing streak with a win over Wisconsin on Saturday and is also among the four teams – along with Michigan State and Illinois – tied for fifth, a half-game behind a two-way tie for third in the conference.
This should be one of the more intense NCAA basketball games today, as both are trying to improve their seeding for the upcoming conference tournament, so let’s take a closer look at the game and the best Michigan vs Rutgers betting to do.
Michigan Wolverines vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights Odds
Michigan Wolverines vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights Information
Michigan Wolverines vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Location: Jersey Mike’s Arena, Piscataway, NJ.
Date and Time: Thursday, February 23, 2023, 8:30 PM ET.
How to Watch: FS1 | https://livestreamsports.co/
Michigan Wolverines vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights Recent Scores
The Michigan Wolverines have usually circled the date of a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on their NCAAB schedule as an easy win, but that changed last season.
Rutgers earned its first-ever win against the Wolverines after losing the first ten matchups, splitting the season series thanks to a home win. Wolverines won the rematch at home, but going into Piscataway and coming away with a win isn’t going to be an easy feat for the Wolverines anymore.
Michigan Wolverines vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights Betting Analysis
Michigan Wolverines Facts to Know
The Michigan Wolverines schedule isn’t going to be easy from here on out, but the team needs as many wins as possible to be considered among the March Madness bets, as they are currently on the outside looking in most NCAA Tournament field projections.
The Wolverines have just one home game remaining – against Wisconsin on Sunday – followed by trips to face Illinois and Indiana.
If Michigan is going to be among the NCAA basketball teams competing in the Big Dance, it’ll need some better play from its big man, center Hunter Dickinson. The 7-1 junior is the team’s leading scorer at 17.6 points per game while also averaging 8.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks, but he’s scored 16 or fewer points in each of the last four games.
Guard Dug McDaniel had a big game in Saturday’s win over Michigan State, finishing with 18 points, four rebounds, and four assists. The freshman is averaging 7.5 points and 3.6 assists per game, but he could be a factor for the Wolverines against an aggressive Rutgers defense.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights Facts to Know
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights game at Wisconsin last Saturday was huge for the program, as they came away with a win that snapped a three-game losing streak and put them back on course for another NCAA Tournament berth. Rutgers is considered fairly safe for a berth, but an extended losing streak might have put that in jeopardy.
Junior center Clifford Omoruyi can be one of the more intimidating college basketball players in the paint. He is leading the Scarlet Knights with 13.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. When Omoruyi gets near the hoop, he can be hard to stop, as shown by his 50.5% shooting from the floor, which includes many powerful dunks.
Senior guard Cam Spencer can get hot from the perimeter for Rutgers, as he’s shooting 42.5% from 3-point range. Spencer, a transfer from Loyola (Md.), has fit in well with the Scarlet Knights in his first season in the program, averaging 12.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per contest.
Updates
Before you do your Michigan vs Rutgers betting, keep a close eye on the college basketball injury report, which could be key to this game. Wolverines guard Jett Howard, the team’s second-leading scorer at 14.4 points per game, left Saturday’s game against Michigan State with an ankle injury, and his status for this contest is uncertain.
For Rutgers, guard Caleb McConnell (9.7 points, 2.5 steals) sat out the Scarlet Knights’ last game with back spasms and isn’t expected to be ready for Thursday’s contest.
Michigan Wolverines vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights Betting Preview
The NCAAB odds for this conference clash favor the host Scarlet Knights to come away with the win. Rutgers is giving six points on a point-spread bet that would give you -110 odds for either team.
If you prefer to bet on the moneyline, you can get Rutgers at -250, while Michigan is listed at +305 for a straight-up victory. The over/under for the contest is set at 133.5 points, with -110 odds on both sides of that wager.
Michigan Wolverines vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights Betting Prediction
The Scarlet Knights are very good at home this season, going 14-3, which has to be a major factor in your Michigan vs Rutgers betting. We like the Scarlet Knights’ defense to frustrate the Wolverines, especially if Howard can’t go, as they pull away late for the win.
When you make your college basketball picks, take Rutgers to win and cover, and the over to hit.
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