Michigan vs Rutgers Picks and Odds (Feb. 23)

• NCAA Tournament hopefuls Michigan and Rutgers meet in a Big Ten game on Thursday, February 23.
• Rutgers is a 6-point home favorite against Michigan at Jersey Mike’s Arena.
• Read below for Michigan vs Rutgers odds, analysis and prediction.

Rutgers (17-10, 9-7) is a 6-point home favorite over Michigan in a Big Ten game with NCAA Tournament implications at 8:30 pm ET Thursday. The Scarlet Knights are 1-3 SU and ATS in their last four.

Michigan (9-7, 15-12) has won and covered four of its last six games. The Wolverines broke a two-game losing streak with an 84-72 home victory over arch-rival Michigan State the last time out Saturday.

Michigan vs Rutgers Odds

Rutgers is a 6-point home favorite against Michigan, although the Wolverines have dominated the series since Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2014-15. Michigan is 10-1 SU and 7-4 ATS in the series  since their first conference meeting on Jan .20, 2015. The teame split the series last season, when Scarlet Knights got their first series victory 75-67 at home as a 3.5-point underdog. The game has gone under the total in four of the last five.

Michigan is 13-13-1 ATS this season, 3-5 on the road. Rutgers is 16-10-1 ATS, 12-4 at home. Michigan is 15-12 against the “over,” while Rutgers is 11-16 in that spot.  The Wolverines are 1-5 SU and ATS in their six Big Ten road games. Rutgers is 5-2 SU and ATS in conference home games.

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Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook on Feb. 22.

Rutgers Looks to Rebound

The Scarlet Knights needed Clifford Omoruyi blocked shot as time expired to avoid their first four-game losing streak of the season the last time out,  a 58-57 victory at Wisconsin on Saturday. Omoruyi closed out on Connor Essegian quickly enough to get of piece of Essegian’s potential game-winning jumper. Rutgers’ recent struggles have coincided with the loss of starting power forward Mawot Mag, who suffered a season-ending torn knee ligament in first half of a 61-55 victory over Michigan State on Feb. 4. Losses to Indiana, Illinois and Nebraska followed.

The final defensive stand by RU to win the game.

Clifford Omoruyi was everywhere and the block on the last shot is nearly impossible for anyone not named Big Cliff. #TheKnighthood🛡⚔️ pic.twitter.com/oBzIADLxBW

— Chris Corso (@CACorso) February 18, 2023

Mag (7.8 points, 5.3 rebounds) although those numbers played bigger because of the Knights’ tempo,. Mag’s defensive presence was a factor on a team that preaches toughness at that end. Rutgers is fifth in Division I in opponents’ shooting percentage at 38.8 percent, but foes shot 50.9 percent without him in the recent three-game losing streak.

Senior 6’11” Omoruyi (13.4 points, 9.8 rebounds), guard Cam Spencer (12.6 points, 57 threes) and guards Caleb McConnell (9.7 points, 5.4 rebounds) and Paul Mulcahy (8.7 points, 5.1 assists) are the Knights’ main pieces. McConnell is not expected to play against the Wolverines after suffering a back injury in warmups prior to the Wisconsin game.

Michigan’s Jett May Be Grounded

The Wolverines were without a full complement of players because of Covid issues when they lost at Rutgers last season, and  they could be short-handed again here. Jett Howard (14.4 points, 2.7 assists, 69 threes) suffered a right ankle injury early in the second half against Michigan State and did not return. Howard did not practice Monday or Tuesday. He suffered an ankle injury against Minnesota on Jan. 22 and did not play four days later in a home loss to Purdue. Starting forward Terrance Williams (6.8 points, 6.1 rebunds) has missed the last two games with an ankle injury.

Projected lotto pick Jett Howard just dropped 34 points and made 7 3s

Real wiggle here too at 6’8 pic.twitter.com/UiaEokCN12

— PDT (@PDTScouting) January 13, 2023

Big man 7’1″ center Hunter Dickinson (17.6 points, 8.5 rebounds), freshman wing Howard and sophomore guard Kobe Bufkin (12.8 points) are the Wolverines’ main weapons this season, but 5’11” point guard Dug McDaniel stepped up with a season-high 18 points when Howard went out against the Spartans. McDaniel had a better than 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, and with him at point the Wolverines are averaging only 9.9 turnovers per game. McDaniel entered the starting lineup after the Wolverines’ 5-3 start.

Michigan vs Rutgers Prediction

Both teams are likely to be without key components here, which complicates things. Rutgers will feel the losses of Mag and McConnell on the defensive end. McConnell was the Big Ten’s Defensive Player last season, and his length is a disruptive force. Michigan’s Howard, of course, would be missed. It sounds counterintuitive, but the Rutgers might miss its defenders more than Michigan misses its outside scorer. Michigan’s dominance in the series is counterbalanced by its futility on the Big Ten road and Rutgers’ solid play at home this season. But monitor Howard, hold your nose and take the points.

• Pick: Michigan +6 (-110) 
• Season CBK: 42-22 ATS