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Michigan Wolverines vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights Betting Preview

In a crazy case of role reversal, the Michigan Wolverines are near the bottom of the Big Ten standings heading into their matchup with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, who are ranked No. 25 in the polls. The two teams will meet at Madison Square Garden on Saturday afternoon, with Michigan a one-point favorite and the over/under set at 134 points.

The Scarlet Knights might be the biggest surprise in college basketball this season. They have climbed into the Top 25 for the first time since 1979, doing so in a year in which the Big Ten is loaded from top to bottom.

Rutgers sits at 7-3 in Big Ten play and 16-5 overall after winning four of its last five games, with all of its losses during conference play coming on the road.

As for the Wolverines, it’s been an utterly crazy season for first-year coach Juwan Howard. Michigan exploded into the top five after beating Iowa State, North Carolina, and Gonzaga in the Battle 4 Atlantis in November.

But it’s been all downhill since then. A win over Nebraska on Tuesday snapped a four-game losing streak; however, the Wolverines are just 3-6 in conference play and 12-8 overall as February begins.

Who’s Playing

After sitting out one game because of a team suspension, Zavier Simpson has been reinserted into the lineup and will play for the Wolverines on Saturday. Despite the Wolverines beating Nebraska on Tuesday without him, Simpson is an essential part of the Michigan team.

He leads the Big Ten with over eight assists per game in addition to scoring nearly 13 points per contest, making him one of three Michigan players to average double-digit points.

However, second-leading scorer Isaiah Livers remains questionable because of a groin injury. He’s played just one game since Christmas and was far from his best. Livers, who averages 13 points per game and shoots 50 percent from the perimeter, is said to be day-to-day and trending toward playing. But it remains up in the air whether the Wolverines will get him back after going 3-4 without him.

An Army of Knights

The team’s success has been a true team effort for Rutgers this season. The Scarlet Knights have nine players in their regular rotation, with seven of them averaging at least seven points per game. However, no player scores more than 12 points per game, giving them great balance.

There is a handful of players capable of stepping up on any given night, and so the Scarlet Knights aren’t overly reliant on one player carrying them.

It’s also a group effort on the defensive end of the floor. Myles Johnson provides great rim protection with seven blocks over his last two games, while Geo Baker is one of the better on-ball defenders in the Big Ten.

As a team, Rutgers is giving up just under 61 points per game this season. In their 10 conference games, only three teams have been able to top 65 points, which is why the Scarlet Knights can win games without a bonafide star on the offensive end.

Don’t Buy the Hype

Rutgers has won a lot of games, but they naturally play close, low-scoring games. That should help Michigan keep it close if Livers doesn’t play. With Simpson back, he’ll give the Wolverines enough of a spark to win. Bet on Michigan to get the win against Rutgers.

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