The Rutgers Scarlet Knights (12-7 overall, 8-7 Big Ten) visit the Michigan Wolverines (14-1, 9-1) for a Thursday night contest tipping off at 9 p.m. ET at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. Below, we analyze the Rutgers-Michigan college basketball odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Michigan is No. 3 in the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Rutgers at Michigan: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:30 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Rutgers +375 (bet $100 to win $375) | Michigan -500 (bet $500 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Rutgers +9.5 (-110) | Michigan -9.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 136.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Rutgers at Michigan: Three things to know
- Michigan is playing its second game since a COVID-19-induced hiatus had the Wolverines on the shelf from Jan. 23-Feb. 13. The Wolverines rank third in the Big Ten in offense (78.9 points per game) and second in defense (64.9 PPG). Since Jan. 6, it has been the defense carrying the water for UM. Over their last six games, the Wolverines are 5-1 and have held foes to 60.2 PPG while allowing a mere 36.4% accuracy mark from the field.
- Rutgers is 5-1 over its last six games, and that stretch includes road wins against Indiana and Northwestern. Overall, RU is just 3-4 away from Piscataway. The Scarlet Knights’ offense has often struggled on the road — a team that’s averaging 71.8 PPG (ninth in the Big Ten) has scored fewer than 70 points in five of the seven road contests.
- The Maize & Blue are 4-0 against the spread over their last four games at home. Their margin of victory against the number in those four contests is 15.13 PPG.
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Rutgers at Michigan: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Michigan 75, Rutgers 64
Money line (ML)
Peg Michigan being a bit north of an 80% proposition to win the game outright. The true odds for both teams are well-bracketed:
PASS.
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Against the spread (ATS)
Michigan has covered the spread in four straight games against Rutgers and in six of the past eight head-to-head meetings.
The Wolverines’ defense is perhaps underrated. Michigan has athleticism and a mix of youth and veterans that plays into much success at both ends of the floor. The Knights struggle against distance shooting; the Wolverines are strong from beyond the arc and from points just inside it.
On a slight lean due to 9-and-a-hook being a bit rich, TAKE MICHIGAN -9.5 (-110).
Over/Under (O/U)
No lean either way: PASS.
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