Posted on
2/28/2008 5:26:49 PM
College Basketball Betting - NORTHWESTERN at MICHIGAN
By Charles Jay
BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds: MICHIGAN -8, Total 129
Two Big Ten teams who are seeking something to look forward to will do battle in Ann Arbor on Tuesday night, as the Northwestern Wildcats (7-18 SU, 9-11 ATS) face off against the Michigan Wolverines (9-18 SU, 10-15 ATS) in a game that is scheduled to tip off at 9 PM ET at the Chrysler Arena.
In the BetUS NCAA college basketball betting odds, Michigan is listed as an eight-point favorite, with a total of 129 points.
Here are some of the NCAA college basketball betting trends as they relate to this matchup:
* NW has lost its last seven games SU
* NW has played four of its last five games UNDER the total
* NW has lost its last five road games SU
* NW has covered six of its last eight road games
* NW has played four of its last five road games UNDER the total
* MICH has covered five of its last six games
* MICH has won four of its last five games SU
* MICH has lost 16 of its last 22 games SU
* MICH has played five of its last six games UNDER the total
* MICH has won and covered three of its last nine home games
* MICH has played four of its last six home games OVER the total
* MICH has covered nine of the last ten meetings
* MICH has won eight of the last ten meetings SU
* MICH has covered four of the last six meetings as the home team
* MICH has won seven of the last nine meetings SU as the home team
* Three of the last four meetings have gone UNDER the total
* MICH has had the shooting edge in seven of the last ten meetings
* NW has made more three-pointers in four of the last six meetings
Michigan has been the dominant side in this series, winning eight of the last ten meetings and covering nine of those meetings. But I'm not so sure that counts a major factor here.
We are somewhat concerned with this heavy a pointspread burden for Michigan to carry, because the Wolverines have dropped six of their last nine home games to the number, while Northwestern has taken advantage of being overpriced as a dog by the oddsmaker, covering six of eight on the road.
But we may have to put our faith in John Beilein's team here, because they at least appear to be going in a positive direction right now. Michigan has won four of five, and they're beating teams that an emerging Big Ten aspirant should beat, including Illinois, Penn State and Iowa. It's been slow in coming along since Beilein took over the coaching reins, but he does now have this team understanding the new, fast-paced offense he's installed. And Northwestern, which allows almost 49% shooting, should allow Michigan to convert some of those transition opportunities, something that didn't happen in the last two games, as the Wolverines shot just 31% against Minnesota and 30% against Illinois.
Beilein has also found himself a star of the future in freshman Manny Harris (16.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg), who will be even better if he can improve his shooting. Meanwhile, Northwestern got within three points of Indiana last time out, but even they would admit they caught a Hoosiers' squad that was in the midst of a lot of confusion in the wake of Kelvin Sampson's departure.
We will lay the points with Michigan, the eight-point favorite in the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds.
JAY'S PLAY: MICHIGAN
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(Charles Jay of http://www.eBookies.com gives it the old college try as a regular contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)