Legal betting sites favor the Michigan Wolverines to beat the Texas Tech Red Raiders by two points. UM made short work of the Montana Grizzlies 74-55 in the first round as 15-point chalk. The Wolvies easily covered the point spread established by the best online sportsbooks. In the next round, Michigan coasted by the Florida Gators 64-49 as 5.5-point favorites. TTU went berserk on the Northern Kentucky Norse 72-57 in the first round as 13-point faves. The Raiders then tamed the Buffalo Bulls 78-58 as four-point favorites in the second round. “On offense, it’ll be about stopping [sophomore guard] Jarrett Culver,” the awesomely named Orion Sang writes. “Michigan is likely to guard him with Charles Matthews, who has been an elite on-ball defender in his time at Michigan. Texas Tech averages 36.7 percent on 3s, which means the Wolverines have to limit open looks from outside.”
Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Michigan Wolverines
- Date: Thursday March 28, 2019
- Time: 9:39 PM (EDT)
- Venue: Honda Center Anaheim, California
- Odds from GTBets.eu:
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Tech | +1½ (-110) | 126 (-110) | +105 |  |
| Michigan | -1½ (-110) | 126 (-110) | -125 | |
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Betting Texas Tech
The Raiders score 73.2 points per game, which is slightly more than the Wolverines. TTU has the second-best scoring defense in the country. In fact, Texas Tech has held opponents to fewer than 70 points in all but three of their last 12 games. By way of example, Buffalo tallied the fifth-most ppg in the country this season. However, TTU held them to just 58. On the boards, Texas Tech averages 34.4 rebounds per game. Per legal betting sites, the Red Raiders are 1-1 SU and 10-2 ATS in its last 12. Their only setback in that span came to West Virginia. Additionally, TTU is 4-0 ATS in their last four games playing the Big Ten. 10-2 ATS in their last 12 overall. 4-1 ATS in their last five NCAA tourney games. And 5-16 ATS in their last 21 games on Thursday.
Betting Michigan
The Wolverines score about three points fewer per game than the Raiders (70.3). They’re also behind TTU in scoring defense, allowing the third-fewest points per game. UM is a bit better at rebounding, grabbing 35.3 boards per game. The Wolverines are 6-2 SU and ATS in its last eight games. Those two defeats took place to rival Michigan State. Also, UM is 4-1 ATS in their last five games overall. 4-1-1 ATS in their last six NCAA tournament contests. 40-14-2 ATS in their last 56 games on a Thursday. And 42-19-4 ATS in their last 65 games on a neutral court.
Michigan may be the underdogs, but former Indiana Pacer Reggie Miller likes their chances. “Obviously this is a team that made it to the Final Four,” he said. “But a guy like [freshman Ignas Brazdeikis] has given them an injection of life. Here comes this young, brash Canadian who has the game to back it up. That energy really resonates with this team. I think [Michigan has] one of the more favorable draws. It remains to be seen if [Gonzaga] can live up to the No. 1 seed. Come tournament time, it’s all heart.”
Pick: This one will be as close as the legal betting sites spread anticipates. Texas Tech has a slightly better offense. As Sang predicts Michigan will attempt to level the playing field by stopping Culver. Should the Wolvies failed to do so, though, the Raiders are likely to cover. A safer bet, however, is to take the under. Both schools are more unmovable objects than they are irresistible forces. To quote Sang one last time, “this looks like one of those games where the first team to reach 50 points wins.”
