Michigan Wolverines vs Michigan State Spartans Prediction, 3/7/2021 College Basketball Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Michigan Wolverines vs Michigan State Spartans

Date: Sunday, March 7, 2021

Location: Breslin Center in East Lansing, MI

TV: CBS

Odds/Point Spread: Michigan (-7)

The Michigan Wolverines (19-2) are headed to Breslin Center on Sunday where they'll meet the Michigan State Spartans (14-11). Michigan opens this contest as 7-point favorites. The over/under has been set at 136.

Michigan comes into this one with a win-loss mark of 19-2 on the campaign. They currently have an average of 77.1 points per game (54th in college hoops) while connecting on 49.1% from the floor. The Wolverines are shooting 39.0% on three-point shots (158 of 405) and 76.9% from the charity stripe. As a unit, Michigan is pulling in 38.0 rebounds per contest and has accumulated 319 dimes on the season, which is 120th in D-1 in terms of passing the ball. They are losing possession via turnover 11.8 times per contest and as a group are committing 15.0 fouls every game. When they are on defense, the Wolverines are able to force 10.4 turnovers per game while drawing 16.1 personal fouls. They currently rank 35th in college basketball in giving up assists to their opponents with 202 surrendered so far this season. The Wolverines defensively are giving up a field goal percentage of 38.7% (498 of 1,286) and they concede 31.0 rebounds per contest as a team. They are surrendering 32.5% on shots from beyond the perimeter and they rank 51st in college basketball in PPG allowed (65.0).

The Michigan Wolverines played the Spartans and took home the win by a score of 69-50 in their last contest. Michigan ended having earned a 50.0% field goal percentage (26 out of 52) and made 7 of their 16 3-pointers. From the free throw line, the Wolverines converted 10 of their 14 tries for a rate of 71.4%. Regarding grabbing boards, they earned 34 with 7 of them being of the offensive variety. They also distributed 9 assists in this contest while forcing the other team into 11 turnovers and earning 4 steals. When talking about defense, Michigan allowed their opponent to shoot 36.4% from the floor on 20 out of 55 shooting. Michigan State doled out 7 dimes and had 5 steals in this matchup. Additionally, Michigan State pulled down 27 boards (7 offensive, 20 defensive) and got 5 rejections. Michigan State finished the game at 71.4% at the free throw line by burying 10 of 14 shots. They also converted 0 out of their 9 tries from 3-point land.

Franz Wagner is one guy who was a major contributor for the contest. He walked away with 19 points on 6 out of 12 shooting. He was on the hardwood for 35 minutes and snagged 6 rebounds. Wagner ended up shooting 50.0% from the floor but wasn't able to get an assist. One more player that had an impact in this matchup for the Wolverines was Hunter Dickinson. He collected 10 rebounds in his 23 minutes played. He finished the contest at 75.0% from the field in the game by going 6-of-8 (14 points). Overall, Dickinson finished the game without an assist.

Michigan State has a record of 14-11 this season. Michigan State has 1,737 pts this year (69.5 per contest) and they pull in 37.6 rebounds per contest. The Spartans are committing 19.8 personal fouls every game and they shoot 72.6% from the free throw line. When it comes to offense, the Spartans are connecting on 42.4% from the field, which ranks them 266th in the nation. They are dishing out assists 16.2 times per contest (30th in college basketball) and they turn it over 13.0 times per game. The Spartans on defense are ranked 199th in D-1 in points given up per game with 70.9. They are forcing their opponents into 10.7 TO's every game and have let teams shoot 42.7% from the field (152nd in college basketball). The Michigan State defense gives up 31.6% on shots from 3-point land (154 of 488) and opponents are knocking down 71.7% of their shots from the free throw line. They relinquish 13.2 dimes and 34.4 rebounds on a nightly basis, which ranks 208th and 142nd in college hoops.

In their loss to Michigan, the Spartans earned 20 defensive boards and 7 offensive boards for a total of 27 for the matchup. They also turned the ball over 11 times, while earning 5 steals in this game. The Wolverines were called for 20 fouls for the game which took the Spartans to the charity stripe for a total of 14 tries. They were able to knock down 10 of the free throw tries for a percentage of 71.4%. In regard to shooting from beyond the arc, Michigan State converted 0 out of their 9 attempts (0.0%). Overall, the Spartans shot 20 for 55 from the field which gave them a shooting percentage of 36.4%. The Spartans permitted the Wolverines to bury 26 of 52 tries from the field which gave them a shooting percentage of 50.0% for this contest. They finished 43.8% from 3-point land by shooting 7 of 16 and finished the game at 10 of 14 from the free throw line (71.4%). When it comes to attacking the glass, Michigan State permitted Michigan to get 34 in total (7 on the offensive glass).

Aaron Henry ended up having an impact for the Spartans in this matchup. He converted 6 of 15 in the game for a field goal percentage of 40.0%, and had 5 rebounds. Henry tallied 14 points in his 32 minutes on the hardwood and had 1 assist in this game. Someone else that was pivotal for Michigan State was Joshua Langford. He ended up finishing with no assists in his 33 minutes on the hardwood, and he put in 2 out of 10 from the floor. Langford walked away from this one going 20.0% from the field while also contributing 6 points and 1 rebound.

Who will win tonight's college basketball game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Michigan (-7)

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