Michigan vs Maryland Odds, Lines, and Spread

• #16 Michigan (7-0) heads to Maryland (6-3) on Thursday, Dec. 31, at 7:00 pm ET
• The Wolverines are one of just nine teams with at least seven wins and zero losses
• The odds for the game, as well as matchup analysis and a pick, can be found in the article below

How might one try to tie a bow on this upsetting, unpredictable year? For #16 Michigan (7-0) and Maryland (6-3), a New Year’s Eve tip-off on Thursday (7:00 PM ET) presents a perfect opportunity to end 2020 on a high note.

The Wolverines are one of just a few noteworthy unbeatens remaining, but they haven’t yet faced a team like the Terrapins. They also aren’t used to playing on the road, with only one game away from the Crisler Center so far this year.

 Michigan vs Maryland Odds

Odds as of Dec. 30th, 2020.

How They’ve Fared So Far

Michigan has ridden its potent offense to an unbeaten start, posting 80-plus points in all but one game. The Wolverines are particularly strong inside the arc (61.1 percent from 2-pt. range, 10th in NCAA Division I) and have the 13th-best effective field goal percentage in D-I.

Michigan has beaten three teams inside of KenPom’s top 100, but none inside the top 50. All but one of the Wolverines’ wins have been by double-digit points. The other win came by a score of 58-54 over Penn State, which ranks 54th at KenPom.

The road has been bumpier for Maryland, with more ups and downs in the early stages of this season. All three of the Terrapins’ losses have come against KenPom top-50 opponents, including double-digit defeats in consecutive games against Clemson and Rutgers.

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— Maryland Men’s Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) December 29, 2020

Their other loss was to Purdue, 73-70. But they followed that up with a six-point road win over No. 6 Wisconsin. In that game, the Terrapins never trailed by more than seven and found a way to score on nine of their final 10 possessions.

ATS Analysis

Both teams have winning records against the spread, but with slightly different trends of late.

Michigan has won four of five ATS and five of seven overall. In their most recent game, their first as a road team, the Wolverines covered a 7.5-point spread as favorites with an 80-69 win over Nebraska.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3_PeYy1y2c

Maryland has won consecutive games ATS but is just 5-4 overall — including 3-3 at home. Three of the Terrapins’ ATS wins, including their most recent one, has come by a double-digit margin.

One might be wise to steer clear of the over/under on this matchup. Both teams have strong offenses (Michigan and Maryland rank 10th and 11th in KenPom’s adjusted efficiency, respectively), but the Terrapins have seen three consecutive games fall below the projected point total.

Head-to-Head Matchup

In March, Michigan and Maryland matched up just three days before the COVID-19 pandemic rocked the sporting landscape. It was their final game of the season, as you might’ve guessed.

The Terrapins won, 83-70, as 4.5-point favorites. Both teams have three key returnees from that game, but Maryland’s group stands out a bit more. Particularly Eric Ayala, a point guard who is shooting over 64 percent from 2-pt. range.

Over the past three years, Michigan has actually covered in three of the five matchups — and won four of five straight up. But we like the Terrapins’ core returning group from last year to give Michigan their best fight yet.

Pick: Maryland (+106)