Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament Florida State vs Michigan Betting Preview
#1 Seed Wolverines Only Slight Favorites Here
The NCAA tournament Florida State vs Michigan matchup may be closer than people think. The #1 seed Wolverines are just -2 point favorites over the #4 seed Seminoles. The public will likely be hammering Michigan (58%) and yet the line has dropped from a -3 open. Is FSU getting ready to punch their ticket to the Elite 8 as the last Big Ten team goes down?
Even though the line seems low, it could even be that the wrong team is favored as Michigan tries to survive without Isaiah Livers who has a stress fracture in his foot. The Seminoles have great size too, and have been ranked as high as #11 this year. Sunday afternoon’s contest is shaping up to be a good one.
Florida State the Team to Beat?
The Big Ten sent 9 teams to the tournament, and Michigan is the only one left. That’s not necessarily a slight against the Wolverines, but perhaps they aren’t as impressive as most people assumed as the conference was overrated. Either way, FSU will take it but then again they are the only ACC team out of 7 that are still alive.
The Seminoles are getting some buzz heading into the NCAA tournament Florida State at Michigan game. FSU shut down a very good Colorado team 71-53 in the round of 32. Then again it was a very quick turnaround for the Buffaloes, who may have been effected by the very close-to-home shooting in Boulder earlier in the day.
Given the extenuating circumstances surrounding the win over Colorado, maybe FSU isn’t playing as well as we think. They lost two of three to close out the regular season, bowed out to Georgia Tech in the 2nd game of the ACC tournament, and even struggled at times vs. UNC-Greensboro in the round of 64. UNC-G was only down three at the half and was within one point with a little over 5 minutes to play.
Michigan Trying to Find Depth
The loss of Livers hurts, but on the bright side the Wolverines have played the last 3.5 games without their Senior forward so the team is adjusting. The first game without Livers took some adjusting, which is why Michigan lost 67-68 to Ohio State in the Big Ten tournament. They’ve had two impressive wins in the Big Dance though.
The Wolverines plowed through Texas Southern in the round of 64, winning 82-66 although they failed to cover the -24.5 spread. Michigan also dispelled a tough SEC foe in last weekend’s 86-78 win over LSU despite 30 points from Cam Thomas and 27 from Javonte Smart. If UM can get a win despite those incredible outings, what chance does FSU have?
Multiple Michigan players have stepped up in Livers’ absence. Eli Brooks had 21 vs. LSU, Hunter Dickinson grabbed 11 boards vs. the Tigers, Mike Smith had 18 in the opening round, and Franz Wagner went for 15 points and 7 boards in the round of 32 win. FSU is equally deep though, as their leading scorer during the regular season MJ Walker, is just 5th on the team in points in four postseason games.
Free NCAA Tournament Florida State vs Michigan Pick
It’s looking like the Big Ten was highly overrated this season, losing #1 seed Illinois and a couple #2 seeds in Ohio State and Iowa prior to even the Sweet 16. Florida State has the size to counter the 7-footer Dickinson in the form of 7’1 Balsa Koprivica. FSU has made it this far even with MJ Walker taking a back seat for the most part. If/when he steps up, the ‘Noles are looking like a championship contender.
Florida State 76 – Michigan 71
Pick: Florida State +2
