Some were concerned about Michigan’s 11-day layoff entering March Madness but they showed no signs of rust in the Sportsbook round, easily rolling Montana 61-47. The win was the Wolverines’ 10th straight, but more importantly for us bettors, they covered the spread, making them 9-1 ATS during their winning streak. They’ll look to add another cover to their tournament resume when they face off with the Houston Cougars on Saturday night.
- The total has gone OVER in five of Michigan’s last six games.
- Houston is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games against teams with winning records.
- Michigan is 7-1 SU on a neutral court this season.
Houston survived a scare in the Sportsbook round vs No. 11-seeded San Diego State, barely edging them out 67-65. The Cougars opened as a 3-point dog, which is a spot they’re starting to grow accustomed to. They’ve been an underdog in seven games this season and have been a decent bet at 5-2 ATS with four outright wins in those games. It’s also become rare for them to not cover in consecutive games as they’re on a run that’s seen them go 4-0 ATS following an ATS loss.
Michigan has been winning with ease during its win streak, with seven of the 10 victories coming by double digits. The Wolverines don’t make many mistakes, as they commit just 9.3 turnovers per game, which is second-best in the nation. They also have a nice streak going vs teams with winning records, going 7-0 SU and ATS in that spot.
The total for the game is hovering in the 134-point range, and bettors should expect a defense-dominated game as Michigan ranks sixth in points allowed and Houston ranks 17th.
Houston Cougars vs Michigan Wolverines Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Houston Cougars will try to spoil the party and cover the point spread on Saturday; they are 18-11-1 against the betting line this season, while the Michigan Wolverines are 23-11-1 ATS. The Cougars are 13-17 on betting the total; the Wolverines are 17-17-1.
The Power Rankings at OddsShark show No. 31-rated Houston taking on No. 70-rated Michigan in this contest.
Statistical Matchup
Rating these schools in several key categories is important for handicappers and Michigan has the nation's No. 132-rated offensive output, at 74.08 PPG. The visiting Houston defense ranks No. 18 allowing on average 64.91 PPG. The Wolverines' FG% has averaged 47.05% so far, more than the Cougars marksmen have achieved on the year, 46.32% per game.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
The Cougars used a 39-point performance from Rob Gray Jr. to help Houston smack San Diego State 67-65 on Thursday at Intrust Bank Arena.
Michigan got 20 points and 11 rebounds from Charles Matthews en route to a 61-47 victory over Montana on Thursday at Intrust Bank Arena.
