The Michigan Wolverines welcome in the Iowa Hawkeyes tonight in Big Ten College Basketball action. The game is scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on ESPN. Currently the Betting Odds for the game have Iowa and Michigan listed as a pick em for the contest.
John Beilein certainly has done a quality job with the Michigan basketball program this season. After two straight seasons of losing the team's best two players, the Wolverines came into this season with some unknowns — but no one could have expected this type of season. Once again Michigan will be playing without their two best players, but now it's due to injury as Derrick Walton Jr. and Caris LeVert are out for the foreseeable future. Michigan has been playing with walk-ons, inexperienced players in key roles and no real star to give the basketball to.
Yet, the Wolverines still find themselves in a decent spot in the Big Ten standings, tied for fifth place. The teams above Michigan are all probable NCAA Tournament teams, but the Wolverines are going to have a tough time making it back to the Big Dance without logging some big wins. One of those wins needs to come tonight against an Iowa team that is in a similar situation for Michigan in regards to needing wins. MIchigan has a couple of ranked opponents still left on the schedule later in the month, but winning games at home is a necessity right now.
Iowa comes into tonight's game having lost three straight overall — two of which came to Wisconsin. The road has been hot and cold for Iowa this season after picking up key wins at North Carolina and Ohio State earlier this year, but losing two straight at Wisconsin and Purdue.
The Hawkeyes can pick up another road victory tonight if they can win the battle on the boards. Iowa is a pretty good rebounding team with their physical front line, which gives them an advantage over Michigan. The Wolverines have very young players on the interior, giving Aaron White, Jarrod Uthoff and Gabriel Olaseni a good shot at having a big impact tonight.
Michigan tends to play small because they have to and the youngsters are going to have to step up tonight. Zak Irvin is the best scoring threat for the Wolverines, but both Aubrey Dawkins and Muhammad-Ali Abdur Rahkman have played well on their time on the court.
Beilein's team can ill-afford to lose this game at home. Iowa's inconsistent but they are a much bigger team up front. The Wolverines win this one at the free-throw line and from the perimeter.
Free Pick: Michigan 62, Iowa 60
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