Michigan Wolverines vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 02/23/2023

Game Time: 8:30 pm ET, Thursday, February 23, 2023

Venue:  Jersey Mike’s Arena, Piscataway, NJ

Where to Watch:  Fox Sports 1

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Michigan +5.5, Rutgers -5.5; Over/Under:  133 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Michigan +5.5, Rutgers -5.5; Over/Under:  133 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Michigan +5.5, Rutgers -5.5; Over/Under:  133 points

Michigan Wolverines:  15-12 (9-7) (9th place, Big Ten)

Rutgers Scarlet Knights:  17-10 (9-7) (7th place, Big Ten)

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Michigan Wolverines:  3-2  last 5

Rutgers Scarlet Knights:  2-3  last 5

Michigan is coming into this game with a 15-12 record overall and they are 2-5 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are also 9-7 in their conference games this season as well. They are entering this game off of a win against the Michigan State Spartans in their last game. Dug McDaniel led the team in points in that game with 18 while Kobe Bufkin was next on the team with 17 points. Dug McDaniel led the team in assists in that game with 4 while Tarris Reed Jr. led the team in rebounds with 10. They were 49.2% from the field, 34.6% from 3-point range, and 81% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 73.5 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 69.2 PPG against them. Michigan has an ATS record of 13-13-1 this season and their O/U record is 15-12.

Rutgers is coming into this game with a 17-10 record overall and they are 13-3 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are also 9-7 in their conference schedule this season as well. They are entering this game off of a win against the Wisconsin Badgers in their last game. Cam Spencer led the team in points in that game with 22 while Clifford Omoruyi was next on the team with 12 points. Paul Mulcahy led the team in assists in that game with 6 while Aundre Hyatt led the team in rebounds with 9. They were 44.2% from the field, 41.2% from 3-point range, and 100% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 69.7 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 59.9 PPG against them. Rutgers has an ATS record of 16-10-1 this season and their O/U record is 11-16.

The current betting odds have Rutgers listed as a 5.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Rutgers is 17-10 overall this season but they have been one of the better teams in the Big Ten this year with their 9-7 conference record. They have also been a really good home team this year with their 13-3 home record and they are going to have some momentum in this game from a road win in their last one. Michigan hasn't been great this year as they are only 15-13 overall but they have been playing just as well as Rutgers in the Big Ten with a 9-7 conference record. They have been terrible in their road games though as they have a 2-5 road record and they don't have a ton of talent on this team either. Rutgers has a better team with more talent and they have been a very strong force on their home court all year. Michigan has already been struggling in road games and now they have to play this one in one of the toughest buildings to go to in the Big Ten. The best way to place a bet here is on Rutgers to cover the spread in this game.

Michigan Rutgers Prediction:  Our NCAAB Pick for Thursday, February 23, 2023 (8:30 pm ET start time) is Rutgers 82 Michigan 68.

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Michigan Wolverines: 19-26 ATS after a game where they covered the spread. 26-19 UNDER after a game where they covered the spread. 15-9 UNDER after 2 straight games forcing the opponent to commit 8 or less turnovers.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights: 12-4 ATS in all home games. 8-2 ATS off a road win. 11-5 UNDER against conference opponents.

Michigan Wolverines:  J. Howard (G) Ques Thurs - Ankle. T. Williams II (F) Ques Thurs - Knee. J. Llewellyn (G) out for season - Knee.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights:  C. McConnell (G) Doub Thurs - Back. M. Mag (F) out for season - Knee.

“Well from start to finish, and I’ll start with the end of the game, Dug was … with his energy on the defensive end and then offensively, he made some tough shots. But he also allowed the game to come to him. Not saying he hasn’t before, but when he set the tone the way he did, the guys really rallied behind Dug. And then you’ve got a lot of energy from our bench, guys like Tarris Reed Jr. and Joey Baker, Jace Howard, those guys were really dialed in to compete.” - Juwan Howard on Dug McDaniel after his team’s win against MSU in their last game. 

“If you can’t get through a losing streak, you’re in the wrong league. Every team in our league goes through it. You embrace that people are interested but nobody knows the journey of the season the way coaches and players do.” - Steve Pikiell after his team’s win against Wisconsin in their last game. 

K. Bufkin 

H. Dickinson 

J. Howard 

D. McDaniel 

T. Williams

M. Mag  

C. McConnell 

P. Mulcahy 

C. Omoruyi 

C. Spencer

PPG: H. Dickinson (17.6)

APG: D. McDaniel (3.6)

Reb/G: H. Dickinson (8.5)

PPG: C. Omoruyi (13.4)

APG: P. Mulcahy (5.1)

Reb/G: C. Omoruyi (9.8)

Coaches:

Michigan Wolverines: Juwan Howard (4th season)

Rutgers Scarlet Knights: Steve Pikiell (7th season)