Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Michigan Wolverines Picks, Predictions, Odds

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

Dec. 11, 2021

Dave Schwab
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

In an early season Big Ten tilt on FS1, the Minnesota Golden Gophers go on the road to tangle with the Michigan Wolverines this Saturday. Game time from the Crisler Center is set for 6:30 p.m. ET

Score Prediction

Michigan 75, Minnesota 60

Best Bets

Michigan -12.5 (-110) at Atlantis

Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Michigan Wolverines Predictions

Minnesota fell from the ranks of the unbeaten with Wednesday/s 75-67 loss to Michigan State as a seven-point home underdog. This followed an impressive road upset over Mississippi State while getting 12 points on Dec. 5. The Golden Gophers are now 7-1 SU on the year.

Michigan opened up Big Ten play by beating Nebraska by 35 points this past Tuesday night. The Wolverines have had their struggles in non-conference play as part of a SU record of 6-3. They closed as favorites in all three of their losses.

Between the two, Michigan is much more battle tested heading into Saturday’s title. Those three losses knocked the Wolverines out of the national rankings. However, this is still one of the best teams in the Big Ten. Looking to regain some clout on a national level, I have Michigan playing to those high expectations on Saturday to win both SU and against the spread.

Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Michigan Wolverines Betting Odds

Odds Provided by DraftKings - Subject to Change

• Minnesota +14.5 (-110)
• Michigan -14.5 (-110)
• Over 135 (+100)
• Under 135 (-120)

More Odds | Futures Odds

Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Michigan Wolverines Betting Resources

• Matchup: Big 10
• Date: Saturday, December 11, 2021
• Venue: Crisler Center
• Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
• TV-Time: FS1 - 6:30 p.m. ET

• Injury Report
• Wooden Award Odds
• Conference Futures Market
• Power Rankings

Minnesota Golden Gophers Betting Analysis

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

• SU: 7-1
• ATS: 5-3
• O/U: 4-4

Minnesota posted a pair of quality wins as an underdog during the seven-game run and it did hang tough in the recent loss to Michigan State. It is 5-3 ATS. Displaying a solid balance in team form on both ends of the court, the Golden Gophers should be able to keep things interesting against Michigan into the second half.

They trailed Michigan State by 13 points at the half in Wednesday’s loss but played the Spartans pretty much even over the next 20 minutes. Forwards’ Jamison Battle and Eric Currycombined to score 35 points in the losing effort.

Battle is the team’s leading scorer this season with 17.8 points per game. He is shooting 46.4% from the field and 34.4% from three-point range. He also leads the team in rebounds with 6.4 a game. Guard Payton Willis is the next highest scorer (16.4 points) and he has led the way in assists with 4.0 a game.

The Golden Gophers are shooting 44.8% from the field with a 34.9 shooting percentage from three-point range. They are pulling down an average of 33.8 rebounds a game. Defensively, Minnesota is holding opponents to 62.8 PPG.

Michigan Wolverines Betting Analysis

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

• SU: 6-3
• ATS: 4-5
• O/U: 3-6

Michigan’s three losses this season (SU and ATS) came against Seton Hall, Arizona and North Carolina. It is 4-5 ATS overall with the total staying UNDER in six of the nine games. The Wolverines have played much closer to form in recent wins against San Diego State as nine-point favorites and Wednesday’s romp over Nebraska giving seven points to easily cover both spreads. This is one of the main reasons why I am laying the points against Minnesota.

Center Hunter Dickinson leads a trio of players scoring in double figures with 14.6 points to go along with his team-high 8.9 rebounds a game. Guard Eli Brooks is next on the list with 13.9 PPG while shooting 44.7% from the field and 37.8% from three-point range. Rounding things out is forward Caleb Houstan’s 10.4-point scoring average.

The Wolverines, as a team, are averaging 72.9 points a game with a 47.0 shooting percentage from the field. That dips to 35.4% from three-point range. They get the edge under the boards with 39.3 rebounds. This includes an average of 10.8 offensive rebounds a game. At the other end of the court, Michigan is giving up an average of 64.9 PPG.

Michigan has gone UNDER the point total in six of its last nine games. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Minnesota Golden Gophers

• Record: 7-1
• VI Ranking: 45
• PS/G: 70.8 (213th)
• PA/G: 62.8 (68th)
• ORtg: 102.4 (190th)
• DRtg: 90.8 (78th)

Inside the Stats - Michigan Wolverines

• Record: 6-3
• VI Ranking: 41
• PS/G: 72.9 (172nd)
• PA/G: 64.9 (108th)
• ORtg: 104.8 (143rd)
• DRtg: 93.3 (110th)

Key Players to Watch

• MINN: Jamison Battle - F (17.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg)
• MINN: Payton Willis - G (16.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
• MICH: Hunter Dickinson - C (14.6 ppg, 8.8 rpg)
• MICH: Eli Brooks - G (13.9 ppg, 4 rpg)

Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Michigan Wolverines Betting Conclusion

After the fast start, Minnesota is staring at an early 0-2 record in conference play while Michigan continues to put a few bad losses in its rear view mirror. The Wolverines are clearly the better team in this matchup and that should be reflected in the final score.

Over the past 20 meetings in this conference rivalry, Michigan holds a SU 16-4 edge (11-9 ATS). The home team has won the last four meetings both SU and ATS with the total staying UNDER in three of the four games.

The Golden Gophers are 2-8 both SU and ATS in their last 10 road games overall. The total has gone OVER in four of their last five games played on the road. Michigan has won eight of its last 10 home games SU with an even 5-5 record ATS. The total has stayed UNDER in seven of those 10 contests.

Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Michigan Wolverines Betting Trends

• Minnesota has covered the spread in five of its last eight games.
• Michigan has gone UNDER the point total in six of its last nine games.
• Michigan has failed to cover the spread in three of its last four home games.
• Michigan has covered the spread in two straight games.

VegasInsider Staff

More from VegasInsider Staff