Sixteen teams are remaining in the NCAA Tournament, and two of those go on Sunday with the chance to advance to the Elite Eight. The 4-seed Florida State Seminoles (18-6) take on the 1-seed Michigan Wolverines (22-4) in the East Region. Sunday’s tipoff is set for 5 p.m. EST inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. Coverage can be viewed nationally on CBS. Michigan is a 2.5-point favorite against the Seminoles, according to oddsmakers.
What to Know – Florida State Seminoles
The Seminoles find themselves in the Sweet 16 for the third season in a row after a pair of double-digit victories during the first two rounds of play. FSU powered past UNC-Greensboro (64-54) in the opening round and outscored the Colorado Buffaloes (71-53) in the round of 32.
Florida State enters the Sweet 16, averaging 78.0 points per game behind 47.8% shooting from the floor and 38.2% shooting from the three-point line. Defensively, the Seminoles hold opponents to 68.9 points per game on 39.3% shooting from the field and 32.6% from deep.
Junior guard Anthony Polite scored a career-high 22 points, and junior forward Malik Osborne came off the bench to add 11 points in the 18-point blowout over Colorado. Polite knocked down 8-of-12 shots, including four threes. FSU shot 52.2% (24-for-46) from the floor and forced the Buffaloes to commit 19 turnovers.
FSU are 12-10-2 against the spread and 4-4-2 over their last ten games. The Seminoles are 1-2-1 ATS in neutral site contests and 12-6 in their last 18 games as the underdog.
What to Know – Michigan Wolverines
Michigan are making their fourth straight appearance in the Sweet 16 and sixth in the last decade. The Wolverines got here with a route of Texas Southern (82-66) and an eight-point victory over LSU (86-78) on Monday.
Offensively, the Wolverines score 76.8 points per game while shooting 48.5% from the field and 38.5% from beyond the arc. Michigan’s defense surrenders 65.9 points per game, 39.3% shooting from the floor, and 32.7% from three.
Michigan used a 14-1 run in the second half to pull away from the Tigers and move on to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament as the only remaining Big Ten team. Senior Eli Brooks and classmate Chaundee Brown each scored 21 points apiece. Michigan shot 53.8% (28-of-52) from the field and 40% (10-of-25) from deep.
The Wolverines sports an 18-8 record ATS and 6-4 in recent matchups. Michigan is 5-10 ATS in their last 15 games against ACC opponents and 2-2 this season in neutral-site meetings.
The Pick is In
This is the highest-seeded game in the Sweet 16 and a rematch of the 2018 regional final where the Wolverines came out victorious. Both teams have upperclassmen who provide experience and leadership in the NCAA Tournament, making this matchup intriguing. FSU’s athleticism and length will cause trouble for Michigan, and the Seminoles will knock off the final team from the Big Ten.
The Pick: Florida State +2.5
