The Michigan Wolverines will play the Northwestern Wildcats today in the Big Ten Tournament. The game is scheduled for a 12:00 p.m. start time and it will be televised live on the Big Ten Network. Currently the betting odds for the game have the Wolverines favored by a couple of points to pick up the victory.

Michigan is on the NCAA Tournament bubble, a loss here to Northwestern absolutely puts them in the NIT. A win probably doesn’t get them into the Big Dance either, but it certainly beats the alternative. Michigan more than likely has to beat top-seeded Indiana in the next round, if they beat the Wildcats.

Northwestern finished with 20 wins this season, just like Michigan, but the Wildcats have two fewer wins in conference play. The two teams met just once this season, a game the Wolverines won by nine points in Ann Arbor.

Derrick Walton Jr. and Zak Irvin lead Michigan into this one, but the Wolverines have dropped two straight and four of the last five overall. The lone win in that time actually came over the Wildcats, a team that has won three straight since the loss to Michigan.

Northwestern has never made the NCAA Tournament, the 1-7 record against the Top 50 in the RPI will keep them out again, unless they run the table in the Big Ten. Michigan has OK numbers on the year, they only have two defeats outside of the Top 50 and both were against strong competition in Connecticut and Ohio State.

Michigan is more talented and on a neutral floor that could play a big role. The Wolverines have to get the job done here to have any chance at the tournament, which should give them added incentive in this one.

Free Pick: Michigan

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