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Michigan, the number one seed, has once again advanced to the Elite Eight. With just a single victory remaining, they are on the verge of securing their second Final Four berth in the last four seasons.
Can the Wolverines replicate their impressive performance against Florida State on Sunday as they prepare to face No. 11 seed UCLA on Tuesday?
Take a deeper dive into the game and discover the perspective of the oddsmakers regarding Michigan’s prospects in the Elite Eight.
Oddsmakers have Michigan as significant favorite
The East Region final between Michigan and UCLA is set to begin at 9:57 p.m. on Tuesday, airing on TBS from Lucas Oil Stadium.
According to oddsmakers, the Michigan Wolverines are heavily favored in this March Madness game. They have been given a 7.5-point advantage in most Michigan sportsbooks, although some lines have a 7-point spread. The over/under for total points scored is approximately 136.5.
Michigan and UCLA haven’t faced each other since December 9, 2017. It is worth mentioning that Michigan has emerged victorious and covered the spread in three out of their last four encounters with UCLA.
According to Covers.com’s bet-tracking charts, UCLA is currently leading in early public betting numbers, with 58% of the handle. This is reflected in the 7-point line offered by a sportsbook.
Wolverines stifle Florida State in Sweet 16
Michigan had their strongest performance of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, defeating the No. 4 seed Florida State with a score of 76-58, propelling them into the Elite Eight.
Michigan Wolverines were well-prepared and fully concentrated on both offense and defense. On the defensive end, they effectively limited Florida State to a mere 5 successful shots out of 20 attempts from beyond the 3-point line, and successfully forced 14 turnovers.
In addition to their offensive aggression, Michigan managed to draw 22 fouls from FSU, while only committing 10 fouls themselves.
Even though the Wolverines had a poor 27% shooting accuracy from beyond the arc, they effectively capitalized on second-chance opportunities to conclude their possessions.
Leading the way, Hunter Dickinson and Brandon Johns Jr. both contributed 14 points, resulting in a well-balanced scoring.
In the game, Franz Wagner contributed 13 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, while Chaundee Brown made a notable impact off the bench with 12 points.
Sunday’s victory highlighted Michigan’s ability to thrive without Isaiah Livers, as it became evident that their progress remains unaffected by his absence. The Wolverines confirmed his exclusion from the tournament due to his foot injury.
UCLA … from First Four to Final Four?
UCLA aims to make history by becoming the second team ever to advance to the Final Four after participating in the First Four round, with VCU being the first to achieve this feat back in 2011.
After dominating No. 2 Alabama for the majority of Sunday’s regional semifinal, the Bruins were pushed into overtime when Alex Reese made a last-second 3-pointer to conclude regulation.
However, the Bruins refused to be overwhelmed by the situation and instead controlled the game against the Tide in overtime, securing a 10-point victory. UCLA displayed unwavering offensive prowess during this period, tallying an impressive 23 points.
Each of the five starters scored at least ten points. Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Jules Bernard each contributed 17 points and together grabbed 14 rebounds. David Singleton, coming off the bench, provided an additional 15 points.
UCLA is among the three teams from the Pac-12 Conference that have made it to the Elite Eight.
Michigan must keep offense churning vs. Bruins
In order to secure a spot in the Final Four, Michigan must persist with the same gameplan that has been successful for them throughout the tournament.
The Wolverines have been performing exceptionally on defense, forcing opponents to exert significant effort in finding open opportunities. Moreover, Michigan has demonstrated excellent teamwork on offense, resulting in impressive point totals. Throughout the course of three games in this tournament, the Wolverines have maintained an average of 81.3 points.
Michigan will be facing a UCLA team on Tuesday, known for allowing their opponents to shoot at a 44% success rate.
In four tournament games, UCLA has scored an average of 78.5 points, which takes into account two overtime sessions. However, they have yet to encounter a defense as formidable as Michigan’s and have not been challenged by a dominant paint presence like Dickinson’s.
Michigan sports bettors may have concerns about the spread, as it is quite high for the current stage of the postseason and may be challenging for Michigan to cover.
UCLA remains undefeated against the spread in their past four tournament games, boasting a 4-0 record. However, it is important to mention that UCLA has been favored in betting odds only on one occasion.
In the tournament, Michigan has a 2-1 ATS record, successfully covering the spread in their previous two games. Nevertheless, as a 7.5-point favorite or higher, the Wolverines have struggled, going 2-4 ATS in their last six matches.
