The Howard Bison take on the Michigan Wolverines in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament. This game is part of the Midwest Region. It will be held at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 7:10 PM ET. Fans can catch the game on CBS.
Howard enters the tournament as a 16 seed after finishing the regular season with a 23-10 overall record. They had a strong showing in their conference with a 13-3 record. On the other hand, Michigan comes in as a 1 seed. They have an impressive 31-3 record this season and are ranked #3 in the AP poll.
Howard Bison Team Preview
The Howard Bison had a solid season with a 23-10 overall record and a 13-3 record in the Mid-Eastern Conference. They scored an average of 77.5 points per game, ranking 161st. Their free throw game was strong, making 18.6 free throws per game, ranking 28th.
On defense, the team recorded 8.7 steals per game. However, they struggled with fouls, averaging 19.2 fouls per game. This might be an area to watch in their upcoming games.
Bryce Harris was a key player, scoring 17.1 points per game with a 48.4% field goal percentage. Cedric Taylor III also contributed with 16.3 points per game. The team will rely on these players to lead them in the upcoming games.
Michigan Wolverines Team Preview
Michigan Wolverines are ranked #3 in the AP poll. They have an overall record of 31-3 in the 2026 regular season. In their conference, Big Ten, they stand strong with a 21-2 record.
In their recent games, they had a close 68-65 win over Wisconsin Badgers. Aday Mara was a standout with 16 points and 8 rebounds. They also secured a 71-67 win against Ohio State Buckeyes, with Mara scoring 17 points.
Michigan averages 86.8 points per game, which ranks them 14th nationally. They have a high field goal percentage at 50.5%. On defense, they average 5.7 steals and 5.9 blocks per game.
Betting Prediction
Michigan is strong on offense, scoring 86.8 points per game. They have a high field goal percentage of 50.5. With these numbers, they can score a lot against Howard.
Howard struggles on defense, allowing many points. They have a high number of fouls per game. This will help Michigan score more free throws.
Howard has not done well against the spread. They have covered only 33.3% of the time as an underdog. Michigan’s strong offense makes it likely they will cover the spread.
- Pick: Michigan -30.5
