Michigan, Dickinson Favored To Win Big Ten, Are Near Top Of NCAA Title Odds

I need you to rewrite the following sentence for me: “The cat is sleeping on the mat.”

In 2021, the University of Michigan successfully resurrected its presence in the college basketball national title contention by securing an Elite Eight berth, earning a top seed, and enjoying favorable odds in the NCAA Tournament.

Is it possible to anticipate a similar performance from the Wolverines in the 2021-22 season? Juwan Howard’s chances seem to be gaining credibility among oddsmakers.

Michigan a top NCAA odds contender at sportsbooks

Michigan is ranked sixth in both the Associated Press Top 25 and Coaches Poll as the season commences.

It seems like oddsmakers hold an even greater opinion of the Wolverines.

According to BetMGM Sportsbook, Michigan is tied for the second-shortest odds to win the NCAA Tournament this year at +1200. Gonzaga is the top favorite with odds of +600, while UCLA and Villanova share the same odds of +1200 with the Wolverines.

BetMGM reports that Michigan is currently receiving the highest number of tickets for national championship wagers. Specifically, Michigan has secured 13.5% of the total number of tickets, while only capturing 10.5% of the handle.

Memphis (+1800) is leading with the highest handle at 25.4%, making it the top choice among bettors. Alongside the Tigers, the Wolverines are the only other teams in the sportsbook that have a handle of 10% or more.

According to BetMGM, Michigan is currently leading the Big Ten Conference race as the favorite with odds of +250 to win the regular-season title. Purdue follows closely behind at +300, while Ohio State trails at +450. Michigan State, their in-state rival, is listed at +900.

Juwan Howard on a fast trajectory

Juwan Howard is embarking on his third season at the university where he once studied.

Michigan’s 2019-20 season, which was abruptly halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ended with a record of 19-12 overall and 10-10 in the Big Ten conference.

Howard was awarded the AP Coach of the Year accolade last year for guiding Michigan to an impressive 23-5 overall record, including a notable 14-3 performance in the highly competitive Big Ten.

Michigan’s journey in the NCAA Tournament was marked by dominant victories against Texas Southern, LSU, and Florida State, propelling them to the East Regional final. However, their impressive run came to an end when they fell victim to an upset by the No. 11 seed, UCLA. Despite this disappointment, it was Michigan’s fourth time reaching the Elite Eight since 2013.

Hunter Dickinson leads returning class

In the upcoming 2021-22 season, Michigan is faced with a few gaps to address, but they can breathe a sigh of relief as Hunter Dickinson has chosen to come back for his sophomore year, alleviating a major worry.

Last season, the freshman 7-foot-1 center was honored as the Big Ten Conference’s freshman of the year and was also recognized as a second-team All-American. Throughout his freshman year, Dickinson maintained an average of 14.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. From the field, he boasted an impressive shooting percentage of 59.8%, while his free throw success rate stood at 74%.

Dickinson is considered one of the top contenders for the 2022 Wooden Award, as per BetMGM. With odds of +800, he is ranked just behind the co-favorites Drew Timme from Gonzaga and Paolo Banchero from Duke.

According to BetMGM, Dickinson currently holds 4.9% of the Wooden Award tickets, while only having 1% of the handle. On the other hand, Trayce Jackson-Davis from Indiana (+2000) has captured a significant 12.2% of the tickets and an impressive 46.2% of the handle.

Top recruiting class aims to replace scoring loss

Despite Dickinson’s return this season, Michigan has suffered the departure of four out of its next five top scorers to the NBA Draft.

Isaiah Livers, Franz Wagner, Mike Smith, and Chaundee Brown departed for more promising opportunities, resulting in a collective loss of 42.6 points per game from the team. Additionally, Austin Davis, who averaged 5.4 points per game, graduated.

Apart from Dickinson and senior guard Eli Brooks, there is a scarcity of experience. Brooks showcased his skills by averaging 9.5 points and 3.1 assists per game, with a near 40% accuracy from the 3-point line.

The University of Michigan has secured a highly talented recruiting class of six individuals, which has been recognized as the top-ranked class nationwide for the 2021 academic year.

Canadian forward Caleb Houston (6-8) and French power forward Moussa Diabate (6-10) are at the forefront of the group. Additionally, guards Kobe Bufkin (6-4) and Frankie Collins (6-1) have also secured spots in the ESPN Top 100 for their class.

Additionally, joining the team this season is senior transfer point guard DeVante’ Jones, who hails from Coastal Carolina. During his time there, Jones showcased impressive statistics averaging 19.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.8 steals per game in the previous season.

UNC highlights nonconference slate

The 2021-22 season for Michigan will commence on November 10th with a home game against Buffalo.

On November 13, the Wolverines will engage in an intriguing nonconference schedule as they participate in Coaches vs. Racism at the Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. However, their opponent for this game happens to be Prairie View A&M.

On November 16, U-M will host Seton Hall in the Gavitt Tipoff Games. Following that, on November 20-21, U-M will participate in the Roman Main Event, competing against UNLV and either Arizona or Wichita State.

As it stands, the most prominent nonconference game on the schedule is a visit to North Carolina for the ACC-Big Ten Challenge on December 1.

Once again, the Big Ten is expected to remain one of the top conferences in the nation, making conference play far from easy. The Wolverines will face their toughest challenge from January 8th to 18th.

During that period, Michigan’s schedule includes hosting MSU on January 8th and Purdue on January 11th, followed by a trip to Illinois on January 14th, and concluding with hosting Maryland on January 18th.

Please rephrase your request.