Penn State vs Michigan Odds, Lines, and Spread

• Michigan Wolverines aim to extend their unblemished record to 6-0 when they open their Big Ten conference schedule against Penn State 
• Nittany Lions are riding high following their upset win over No. 15 Virginia Tech, and will be gunning for a third straight victory over Michigan
• We’ve got you covered with all the odds and trends ahead of Sunday afternoon’s clash at Crisler Center

The Penn State Nittany Lions will be looking to establish their first three-game win streak against the Michigan Wolverines in almost 20 years when they open their Big Ten conference schedule on Sunday as 7.5-point underdogs.

The Nittany Lions are coming off an impressive 75-55 win over No. 15 Virginia Tech as 5.5-point road underdogs earlier this week, improving to 3-1 on the season. The Wolverines have been perfect so far during a season-opening home stand, going 5-0 while covering as double-digit favorites in four of those contests.

Here’s a look at all the odds and trends ahead of Sunday afternoon’s matchup at Crisler Center in Ann, Arbor, Michigan.

Penn State Nittany Lions vs Michigan Wolverines Odds

*Odds taken at FanDuel on 12/12/2020.

PSU Showcases Depth in Upset Over Hokies

Penn State travels to Michigan after turning in a spectacular performance in Tuesday’s victory over the Hokies. The Nittany Lions received contributions from across the lineup, converting on 50% of field goal attempts, and forcing 14 turnovers on the evening.

The team showed its offensive depth on a night when leading scorer Seth Lundy was held off the scoresheet while playing limited minutes. Junior guard Izaiah Brockington led the attack with a career-high 24 points, and Myles Dread and Sam Sessoms made double-digit contributions coming off the bench.

Jamari Wheeler with as good of a pass as you’ll see to Myles Dread for the open 3.

Just an amazing performance from Penn State overall. The ball movement on offense has been a great so far this season. (2/2) pic.twitter.com/UlMEGl66W7

— Dylan Burd (@Dylan_Burd) December 9, 2020

With the win, the Nittany Lions now sport a 5-3 record in their past eight dates with nationally ranked opponents. However, producing consistent results at the sportsbooks remains a challenge. Straight up losers in five of their final six games last season, PSU has covered in just two of 10 overall contests since mid-February.

However, the Nittany Lions have fared well as road underdogs, with this week’s win over the Hokies lifting them to 4-2 SU in their past six on the road while sporting positive odds, and 12-4 ATS in their past 16.

Wolverines Dominate During Home Stand

Pegged at No. 25 in the preseason AP Top 25, the Wolverines have fallen out of the national rankings despite opening their schedule on a torrid 5-0 run that has lifted them to No. 14 in the KenPom ratings. The team is coming off a decisive 91-71 victory over Toledo on Wednesday night, racking up a season-best 57.6% field goal percentage, and now sit sixth in adjusted offensive efficiency at KenPom.

https://twitter.com/LeagueHim_/status/1337496742804197378?s=20

Freshman center Hunter Dickinson came off the bench to lead the Wolverines, tallying 18 points and adding seven rebounds. Shooting a stellar 72.7% in the win over the Rockets, Dickinson has now gone 14-for-17 from the field over the past two games.

The 20-year-old big man’s breakthrough is certainly timely after senior Austin Davis suffered a leg injury in the second half against Toledo that will keep him out of Sunday’s contest. In addition to being the only Wolverines player to score in the double-digits in each of the team’s first five outings, Dickinson also leads the club with 7.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game.

Can Michigan Overcome Recent Struggles vs PSU?

The question now is whether the Wolverines can maintain their high-scoring ways in Sunday’s date with Penn State. The Nittany Lions have limited Michigan to just 66 points per game in their two recent wins over the Wolverines, capped by a 72-63 victory as 4.5-point underdogs in their last visit to Ann Arbor back in January.

And overall, these two teams have combined to score fewer than 140 total points in six of their past eight meetings. Michigan is well positioned to enjoy some more home cooking on Sunday afternoon, but with PSU playing steady defense, the Nittany Lions offer good value as 7.5-point dogs.

Pick: Penn State +7.5 (-105); UNDER 151 (-110)