The Michigan Wolverines (16-4) have clawed their way into the rankings after running an impressive gauntlet recently. Following a one point loss to #3 Purdue, the Wolverines went on the road to knock off then #1 Michigan State by 10 and avoided a letdown the last time out with a victory over a good Maryland club. In the 1/18 college basketball free pick Michigan must once again avoid complacency at Nebraska (13-7) who has gone 10-1 at home.
Nebraska has beaten every Big Ten team at least once since it joined the Big Ten prior to the 2011-2012 season — except #Michigan. The Cornhuskers are 0-8 against the Wolverines since entering the league.
— TheWolverine.com (@TheWolverineMag) January 18, 2018
Wolverines Seem to Be Legit
Michigan has lost to three ranked teams this year (Purdue, Ohio State, North Carolina) and has a one point loss to LSU on a neutral floor. It’s not a bad resume for UM, especially considering they have wins against UCLA, Texas, MSU, and Maryland on the season. Michigan has won nine of their last 10 games and have started off 2-1 to open Big Ten play. The 1/18 college basketball free pick would seem like an easy manhandling of Nebraska for Michigan, but the ‘Huskers have just one loss at home this season – by one point against #10 Kansas.
So how has Michigan been so good this year? It starts with Moe Wagner who leads the team in points and rebounds and is shooting 55% from the field. Wagner had 27 in the win over Michigan State and 11 points last year in the matchup at Nebraska – a game Michigan won 93-57 as -5 road dogs. UM shot 63% from the floor that game and 51.9% from beyond the arc. Nebraska did keep it closer in the first contest of last year, although ultimately losing 85-91 in Ann Arbor.
Cornhuskers Put Their Solid Home Record on the Line
It’s important to note that in the two losses to Michigan last season, Nebraska was without super scorer James Palmer, Jr. who sat out the year after transferring from Miami. Palmer is the key if the Cornhuskers want to get the win in the 1/18 college basketball free pick as he has chipped in 18+ points in six of the last eight. Nebraska’s offense will be up against a tough matchup versus Michigan’s top 15 scoring defense. The Cornhuskers have been held under 65 points in three of the last four games too.
Nebraska does step up their game when they are facing an uphill climb such as Thursday night against a Top 25 team:
- Cornhuskers are 6-0 ATS their last six at home vs a team with a winning percentage above .600
- Cornhuskers are 6-0 ATS their last six at home vs a team with a winning road record
- Cornhuskers are 8-1 ATS their last nine overall
- Cornhuskers are 5-1 ATS their last six home games
- Cornhuskers are 5-1 ATS their last six vs Big Ten
1/18 College Basketball Free Pick Betting
Michigan got a relatively easy sweep of the Huskers a year ago, including a 36 point win in last year’s regular season finale in Lincoln. The Wolverines are also on a nice roll lately, losing by just a point to the #3 team in the country (Purdue) and beating then #1 Michigan State by 10. Yet, oddsmakers are setting the line at just MICH -4.5, up from a MICH -3.5 open. 70% of the public is liking the Wolverines, but Nebraska isn’t a bad team at home. The Cornhuskers lost to Kansas by just one in Lincoln and with a big game from James Palmer Jr. they can keep the 1/18 college basketball free pick close as well.
Pick: Nebraska Cornhuskers +4.5
