Michigan Wolverines vs Penn State Nittany Lions Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Penn State vs Michigan NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Ann Arbor.

Penn State vs Michigan Prediction

Making on a bet on this NCAA game featuring the Nittany Lions versus the Wolverines? Tip off is at at 6:30 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on BTN. The game will be played at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, MI. The over/under for this Big Ten conference contest is set at 160.5 points, with Michigan being favored by -8.5 at home against Penn State.

Penn State vs. Michigan Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan Wolverines
Where: Ann Arbor at Crisler Center
Date: Monday, January 27th
Betting Odds MICH -8.5, PENNST +285 | MICH -370 O/U 160.5

Nittany Lions Preview: Will Penn State Make it Happen on the Road?

Penn State Nittany Lions Recent Game/Games

Penn State’s season record now stands at 13-7 following a narrow 76-75 loss to Iowa on Friday. The Nittany Lions, who were +3.5 point underdogs going into the game, managed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 151, falling short of the 168.5 O/U line.

Penn State trailed 43-38 at halftime but tightened up defensively in the second half, allowing just 33 points while scoring 37 themselves.

Nittany Lions Offense Breakdown

Penn State put up 75 points in their last game, shooting 49.1% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 52.6%, with a strong performance inside, hitting 65.7% of their two-point attempts (23/35). However, they struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 5 of 22 threes (22.7%).

Drew Thelwell hit 3 of 5 from deep, finishing with 16 points and 4 assists. Nick Kern Jr. led the team with 18 points and 7 rebounds, while Josh Dix contributed 11 points and 8 assists, despite shooting 1 of 5 from three.

Nittany Lions Team Defense

Despite giving up 76 points, Penn State's defense couldn't contain their opponents, who shot 50% from the field, hitting 28 of 56 shots. Inside the arc, they allowed 51% shooting, with 17 made two-pointers.

From three-point range, Penn State's defense allowed 11 threes on 23 attempts, a 47% shooting performance. They also sent their opponents to the free-throw line 15 times, where they made 9, shooting 60%. The Nittany Lions gave up 6 offensive rebounds.

Wolverines Preview: Will the Wolverines Come Through as Home Favorites?

Michigan Wolverines Recent Game/Games

Michigan’s season record fell to 14-5 after a 91-64 loss to Purdue on Friday. The Wolverines, who entered the game as +4 underdogs, not only lost but failed to cover the spread.

Michigan trailed 51-26 at halftime and couldn’t close the gap, scoring 38 points in the 2nd half while allowing 40. The game’s total points of 155 went over the 151.5-point line.

Wolverines Offense Breakdown

Michigan struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 37% from the field and 20.7% from three-point range, hitting 6 of 29 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 42.6%, but they connected on 56% of their two-point shots and 85.7% from the free-throw line, making 18 of 21 attempts.

Braden Smith led the way with 24 points and 10 assists, shooting 58.8% overall despite missing all 4 of his three-point attempts. Fletcher Loyer hit 5 threes at a 50% clip, finishing with 18 points, while Trey Kaufman-Renn added 15 points, shooting 58.3% from the field.

Wolverines Team Defense

Michigan's defense struggled in their last game, giving up 91 points on 54% shooting from the field. The Wolverines allowed 34 made field goals on 62 attempts.

Inside the arc, Michigan's defense gave up 25 two-point baskets on 38 attempts, a 65% shooting rate. From three-point range, they allowed 9 made threes on 24 attempts, with the opposing team shooting 37%.

Nittany Lions vs Wolverines Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Although Penn State has a straight up record of 2-8 in their last ten road games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 4-4-2. The team averaged 72 points per game in these games.
Although Michigan has a straight up record of 5-5 in their last ten home games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 5-5. The team averaged 75 points per game in these games.
Going back to their previous three games as the underdog, Penn State has an ATS mark of 3-0 while going 0-3 straight up.
In their last ten games as the betting favorite, the Wolverines have a straight up record of 7-3 and an ATS mark of 5-5.