Michigan vs. Minnesota Predictions, Odds

• January 16, 2021
• By David Schwab
• VegasInsider.com

Saturday’s early college basketball betting board features a Big Ten showdown of nationally ranked teams with the No. 7 Michigan Wolverines on the road against the No. 23 Minnesota Golden Gophers. Game time on ESPN2 from Williams Arena is 2 p.m. (ET).

BETTING RESOURCES

• Expert Picks: Vegas Insiders
• Conference: Big Ten
• Venue: Williams Arena
• Location: Champaign, Illinois
• Date: Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021
• Time: 2:00 p.m. (ET)
• TV: ESPN2
• Bet: BetMGM | BetRivers | FanDuel | PointsBet |William Hill | Best Sportsbooks

WHERE TO BET MICHIGAN-MINNESOTA

• Michigan
• Illinois
• West Virginia
• Nevada
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Pennsylvania
• New Hampshire
• Colorado
• Tennessee

Michigan-Minnesota Betting Odds

• Spread: Michigan -5.5
• Money-Line: TBD
• Total: 148

Odds Subject to Change

Michigan looks to extend its current winning streak as a 5 ½-point road favorite for Saturday’s tilt. The line for betting the total has been opened at 148 points.

The Wolverines extended their straight-up winning streak to 11 games with Tuesday’s 23-point romp over Wisconsin. They are 9-2 against the spread with the total staying UNDER in five of the last eight games.

Michigan is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games against Minnesota with the series tied 5-5 ATS. The total has gone OVER in seven of its previous nine road games against the Golden Gophers.

The total has gone OVER in four of the Wolverines’ last five road games overall. Minnesota has lost three of its last four games SU and ATS to slide to 3-4 (SU and ATS) in Big Ten play.

The total has stayed UNDER in its last five games. The Golden Gophers are 5-0 ATS in their last five home games. They have won their last six Saturday games at home SU.

Betting Analysis – Michigan Wolverines

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 11-0
• ATS: 9-2
• SU - Home: 9-0
• SU - Away: 2-0
• O/U: 6-5

Michigan is proving itself to be the most complete team in the Big Ten this season. In its recent 82-57 romp at home against Minnesota on Jan. 6 as an eight-point favorite, Hunter Dickinson went off for a season-high 28 points.

The freshman center leads the team in scoring with 17.5 points per game. He also leads the way in rebounds (7.9) as part of the team’s 40.1 a game. Forward Isaiah Livers (13.8 points) and guard Franz Wagner (12.5 points) are two more important pieces of the Wolverines’ 82-point scoring average.

As a whole, the team is shooting an impressive 52.4% from the field. This drops to 37.3% from three-point range.

Michigan’s defense is holding opposing teams to 65.8 PPG with 30.4 rebounds on that end of the court.

Betting Analysis – Minnesota Golden Gophers

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 10-4
• ATS: 6-7-1
• SU - Home: 10-0
• SU - Away: 0-4
• O/U: 7-7

Minnesota followed up that lopsided 25-point road loss to Michigan with a 86-71 loss to Iowa last Sunday as a +10.5-point road underdog. Yet, all three of its Big Ten wins have come at home. This includes upsets over Iowa and Michigan State.

To keep that home winning streak alive, the Golden Gophers will turn to guard Marcus Carr. He leads the team in both points (20.9) and assists (5.5). Carr went 5-for-16 as part of his team-high 14 points in the first meeting. Overall, he is shooting 42.2% from the field and 36.3% from three-point range.

The Golden Gophers have three more players averaging at least 10 PPG as part of a 79.1-point scoring average. They are shooting 41% from the field and 30.3% from three-point range.

Defensively, Minnesota is averaging 40.6 rebounds while holding opposing teams to 74.1 PPG.

Inside the Stats – Michigan Wolverines

• PS/G: 82 (29th)
• PA/G: 65.8 (76th)
• Off Rtg: 116.4 (12th)
• Def Rtg: 93.4 (80th)

Inside the Stats – Minnesota Golden Gophers

• PS/G: 79.1 (63rd)
• PA/G: 74.1 (263rd)
• Off Rtg: 106.9 (104th)
• Def Rtg: 100.2 (217th)

Key Players to Watch

• MICH - Hunter Dickinson (17.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG)
• MICH - Isaiah Livers (13.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG)
• MINN - Marcus Carr (20.9 PPG, 5.5 APG)
• MINN - Liam Robbins (13.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG)

Michigan-Minnesota Predictions

Minnesota is a different team playing at home so I would not expect another Michigan rout. However, the Wolverines are playing at a very high level right now.

They have also been a very hot betting team that is easily covering spreads. With five victories in a row by 11 points or more, I'm riding that trend in Saturday’s matchup as well.

Michigan is going to get its points on Saturday to help drive up the total score. I have Minnesota keeping things competitive deep into the second half to do its part in taking the total OVER the current betting line.

• Score Prediction: Michigan 83 Minnesota 76
• Best Bets: Michigan -5.5
• Best Bets: OVER

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