Maryland vs Michigan Basketball Prediction & Picks: Will the Wolverines rebound from CMU catastrophe?

After ending 2022 with a couple of comfortable non-conference wins, Maryland (10-3, 1-1 Big Ten) will step back into conference action this afternoon as they visit Michigan (7-5, 1-0 Big Ten).

Today’s matchup at the Crisler Center is set for a 4:30 pm tip, and it will be televised by FS1.

The Wolverines are looking to rebound after Thursday’s 63-61 loss to Central Michigan, who scored a stunning win at the Crisler Center on freshman Reggie Bass’s late three. Entering the game, Michigan was favored by over 20 points over the Chippewas, who were just 4-8 and had lost four straight games.

Will the Wolverines get back on track and give the fanbase something to smile about after the football team’s crushing College Football Playoff loss yesterday?

Read on for our Maryland vs Michigan prediction, as well as our betting picks and analysis for the matchup.

Maryland vs Michigan Odds

Odds are via BetOnline as of Sunday, January 1, 2023, at 12:20 pm ET. This article may also include odds from our other recommended legal sports betting sites.

Spread

• Maryland +0.5 (-105)
• Michigan -0.5 (-115)

Over/Under

• Over 144.5 (-110)
• Under 144.5 (-110)

Moneyline

• Maryland -104
• Michigan -115

Will the Wolverines Wake Up Offensively

In many college basketball games, holding a team to 63 points, limiting them to 40.6% from the field overall and 20.7% from three, and winning the turnover battle by five will lead to a win.

But it didn’t for Michigan, as Central Michigan held them to 35.1% (20 of 57) from the field and 27.3% (6 of 22) from three.

Also, the Chippewas outrebounded the Wolverines 47-32, with five CMU players grabbing at least five rebounds, compared to just two for Michigan.

This season, the Wolverines have shot 45% or better from the field six times: Purdue-Fort Wayne, Eastern Michigan, Pittsburgh, Virginia, Minnesota, and Lipscomb.

Of those six games, the only one that they lost was the Virginia game, a 70-68 loss in which the Cavaliers also shot better than 50%.

That leaves six games in which Michigan has shot less than 45% from the field: Arizona State, Ohio, Jackson State, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Central Michigan.

Of those six games, the Ohio and Jackson State games are the only two that the Wolverines won.

So, that would seem to make today’s mission against Maryland a fairly straightforward one. Shoot better, and limit the Terrapins just as they limited the Chippewas.

Maryland has shot no worse than 44.3% in their ten wins this season. But in their three losses, they shot 38.2% (vs Wisconsin), 32.7% (vs Tennessee), and 40.4% (vs UCLA).

Maryland vs Michigan Prediction and Picks

Maryland vs Michigan Prediction: Michigan to win

Maryland vs Michigan Picks: Michigan ML (Best Value: Bovada Sportsbook & BetMGM) & Michigan team total over (Best Value: over 71.5 @ BetUS)

Despite their underwhelming record and a bad, bad loss on Thursday, I still do think there is some potential in this Michigan squad.

Hunter Dickinson is key to that potential. And after scoring just nine points, playing only 27 minutes, and fouling out in the Wolverines’ 80-76 loss to North Carolina, he had just 13 points and six rebounds in 32 minutes against Central Michigan.

Dickinson had ten free-throw attempts against the Chippewas, but he took just nine shots from the field for the second straight game. That isn’t enough for a guy who should be in the double digits every time out.

In the last two seasons, Dickinson has had only stretch in which he failed to score at least 15 points in three straight games, and I expect him to avoid that today and help lead the Wolverines to a morale-boosting win.