Michigan Wolverines vs. Maryland Terrapins, 3/15/25
The Big 10 tournament is down to four teams, including Michigan and Maryland, who meet in the first tournament semifinal Saturday afternoon in Indianapolis.
Both teams, with their double byes, played their first tournament games Friday and both won big. We get the impression this game will play much closer.
Who do we like for our free college basketball betting pick?
NCAAB Betting Odds
The Big 10 tournament betting market opened Maryland at -3.5 for Saturday, with an over/under of right around 150.
Early betting action bumped the Terps to -4.5.
Michigan-Maryland Betting Preview
The Wolverines reached this Big 10 tournament semifinal by beating Purdue in a quarterfinal match-up Friday 86-68. Michigan, as a 2-point dog, led the Boilers 40-36 at the half, then opened the second half with a 12-5 run to go up double-digits and eased home from there.
The Wolverines shot 52 percent from the floor Friday while holding Purdue to just 34 percent.
Michigan played 14-6 in the Big 10 during the regular season to earn the No. 3 seed for this conference tournament. However, the Wolverines actually finished by losing their last three games to Illinois, Maryland and Michigan State. Michigan is also a dismal 3-14 ATS over its last 17 games, favored by too much way too often.
But at 23-9 overall Michigan is also a shoo-in to make the upcoming NCAA tournament.
Meanwhile, the Terrapins reached this Big 10 tournament semifinal by ripping Illinois in a quarterfinal Friday 88-65. Maryland, favored at -1.5, used a 13-0 run to lead 57-31 at the half, and later led by 36 on its way to the much-easier-than-expected victory.
The Terps hit 11/23 from 3-point land Friday and won the turnover battle 17-3.
Maryland also played 14-6 in the Big 10 this season to earn the No. 2 seed for this conference tournament and finished with three straight wins over Penn State, Michigan and Northwestern. So the Terrapins ride a five-game winning streak into Saturday.
And at 25-7 overall the Terps are also sure bets to make the Big Dance.
These teams just met 10 days ago, a 71-65 Maryland win at Ann Arbor. The Terrapins led that game 33-22 at the half, allowed Michigan to get within two with six minutes left but held on.
Maryland won the turnover battle that night 16-8.
Also, that game played under a total of 155 as the teams combined to shoot just 41 percent from the floor.
So the Terps are 3-0, both SU and ATS, over the last three meetings with the Wolverines.
Common Opponents
These teams have played two common opponents recently, Illinois and Michigan State. Maryland lost to the Spartans three weeks ago 58-55 on that half-court shot at the buzzer, then beat the Illini by 23 Friday. Michigan lost by 20 to the Illini two weeks ago, then lost by 17 to Michigan State last Sunday.
Totals Report
The Overs are 17-15 in Wolverines games this season, which are averaging 150 total points.
The Overs are 17-14 in Terps games, which are averaging 148 points.
