Penn State Nittany Lions at No. 4 Michigan Wolverines
Sunday, 2/17/13, 12:00 PM EST, TV: Big Ten Network
Opening Point Spread: Michigan -23.5
Current Betting Line: Michigan -23
Opening Total: 132.5
Current Total: 132
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Penn State has lost 12 games in a row, including a 74-72 setback to the Iowa Hawkeyes as 8.5-point home underdogs, while going OVER the total for the second consecutive contest. “We have our ups and downs, and right now we hit a low,” commented Nittany Lions junior guard Jermaine Marshall. He has led the team in averaging 4.25 assists over the last four games. Offensively, the team shot a season-best 47.1 percent from the 3-point area, but it still wasn’t enough. Penn State is 3-0 ATS as road underdogs of 12.5 or more points this season, with the UNDER going 2-1 in that situation.
The Nittany Lions have a 661-595 advantage in field goal attempts versus Big Ten Conference opponents, but they trail such foes by a 348-209 margin from the charity stripe. Marshall ranks seventh in the Big Ten scoring 14.7 points per game, while leading the team in scoring nine times.
Michigan has dropped three of its last four games, including a 75-52 blowout loss to the Michigan State Spartans as 1.5-point road favorites last time out, while going UNDER the total for the first time in four contests. “You’re going to have bumps in the road and it’s part of getting better,” commented Wolverines coach John Beilein. “That was a big bump.” The Wolverines own a 27-11 advantage in this series, including wins in the last four meetings. Michigan is 6-4-1 ATS as home favorites of 12.5 or or more points this season, with the UNDER going 7-4 in that situation.
The Wolverines are 29-1 at the Crisler Center over the last two seasons, including a perfect 14-0 mark during the 2012-13 NCAA basketball season. Michigan is led by its backcourt combination of Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr., who have combined to score 33.7 points per game. The tea’s four losses have come via road games with three coming at the hands of nationally ranked programs.
Sports bettors will likely back the Wolverines due to the home team being 10-4-1 ATS in the last 15 meetings in this series.
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