The Michigan Wolverines (12-10, 6-5 Big Ten) host the Ohio State Buckeyes (11-11, 3-8 Big Ten) in a Big Ten Conference matchup between two teams looking to climb up the conference standings. The clash is the only time these two rivals will play each other this season. Three of the last four meetings between the two have been decided by five or fewer points.
Sunday’s tip-off is at 1 p.m. EST inside the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan is a 3.5-point favorite while the over/under total is 143.5 points.
What to Know – Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State aims to break a three-game conference losing skid on Sunday and keep its record above .500. The Buckeyes are just 3-8 in conference play, sitting in 12th place in the conference.
On offense the Buckeyes rank third in the Big Ten scoring 76.0 points per game while shooting 46.5% from the field and 37.8% from beyond the arc. The Buckeyes defense surrenders 67.6 ppg, 41.1% shooting from the floor, and 30.2% from three.
Brice Sensabaugh leads the Buckeyes offensively averaging 17.4 ppg thanks to a 51.3% shooting effort from the floor. Sensabaugh has been OSU’s leading scorer for the last 13 games in a row. Justice Sueing (12.4 ppg) and Zed Key (11.9 ppg) provide the Buckeyes with a pair of capable scorers in the Buckeyes frontcourt.
The Buckeyes are 8-14 against the spread this year and 1-6 ATS on the road. OSU features a 4-2 record ATS over the last six matchups against the Michigan Wolverines.
What to Know – Michigan Wolverines
The Wolverines begin a three-game conference homestand looking to make a run up the league standings. Michigan finds itself in the middle of a jammed conference race with a possible chance to vault to second place with a sweep of its upcoming home slate.
Michigan is sixth in the conference scoring 73.3 points per game while connecting on 44.5% of its shots from the floor and 34.2% from the 3-point line. Defensively, the Wolverines limit opponents to 69.1 ppg, 42.7% shooting from the field and 31.9% shooting from deep.
Hunter Dickinson is the go-to player in the Michigan offense. The junior center is pouring in 17.7 ppg hitting 54.8% of his shot attempts. Dickinson also gets it done at the free throw line, hitting 22 of his last 24 attempts from the charity stripe over the last five games. Freshman Jett Howard is second on the team averaging 14.6 ppg and knocking down 39.3% from three.
Michigan sports a 10-11-1 record ATS and a 5-5-1 mark ATS in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines are 1-6 ATS over their last seven games at home against teams with a losing record on the road.
The Pick is In
The Wolverines can make a run up the Big Ten standings over the next two weeks with a favorable schedule and it begins on Sunday. Ohio State is trending in the wrong direction and have lost its last five road games by an average margin of 7.8 points. We like Michigan to get it done at home.
The Pick: Michigan Wolverines -3.5
