March Madness: UC San Diego vs. Michigan odds, picks and predictions
The No. 12 seed UC San Diego Tritons (30-4) and the No. 5 seed Michigan Wolverines (25-9) meet Thursday at Ball Arena in Denver in an NCAA Tournament South Region first-round game. Tip-off is scheduled for approximately 10 p.m. ET (TBS). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the UC San Diego vs. Michigan odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
The Tritons won the Big West Tournament championship with a convincing 75-61 win over the UC Irvine Anteaters, covering as a 5.5-point favorite as the total (136) pushed at most shops. UC San Diego is 13-2 against the spread (ATS) in the past 15 games since Jan. 23. The Under is 3-0-1 in the past 4 games, and 6-1-1 in the previous 8 contests.
UCSD G Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, the Big West Player of the Year, led the team with 19.5 points (PPG), 5.5 rebounds (RPG) and 3.7 assists per game while hitting 57.6% of his field-goal attempts. G Tyler McGhie was a close second in scoring with 16.4 PPG.
The Tritons are appearing in their first NCAA Tournament game. UC San Diego enters with a 15-game win streak, the longest active run in the nation. Playing at Ball Arena in Denver, with a capacity of 19,099, will be the largest venue the Tritons have ever played.
Michigan won the Big Ten Tournament with a 59-53 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers Sunday, covering as a 4.5-point underdog as the Under (152) cashed. The Wolverines have won and covered 3 in a row, all as an underdog. Michigan is 0-2 SU in the past 2 as a favorite, while going 1-11 ATS in the past 12 games when favored.
The Wolverines are back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022, led by coach Dusty May. He took FAU to the Final Four in 2023, and C Vladislav Goldin was with him in Boca Raton for that magical run. In 2022, Michigan went to the Sweet 16, and it has made won 2 or more games in each of its past 5 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a national runner-up finish against the Villanova Wildcats in 2018.
– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men's Basketball Coaches Poll
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UC San Diego vs. Michigan odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:31 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML) : UC San Diego +118 (bet $100 to win $118) | Michigan -145 (bet $145 to win $100)
: UC San Diego +118 (bet $100 to win $118) | Michigan -145 (bet $145 to win $100) Against the spread (ATS) : UC San Diego +2.5 (-110) | Michigan -2.5 (-110)
: UC San Diego +2.5 (-110) | Michigan -2.5 (-110) Over/Under (O/U): 141.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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UC San Diego vs. Michigan picks and predictions
Prediction
Michigan 72, UC San Diego 67
MICHIGAN (-145) is worth playing if you're a little on the conservative side, and you're concerned about a close game with the Big West representatives UC San Diego (+118).
The Wolverines stubbed their toe down the stretch with 3 straight losses to close out the regular season, but they're obviously steaming in with a ton of confidence after winning the Big Ten Tournament title.
MICHIGAN -2.5 (-110) is laying a tiny amount of points for a 5 vs. 12 matchup, but traditionally, that's where we have had the most memorable upsets in the NCAA Tournament.
The Wolverines are a dismal 1-11 ATS in the past 12 as a favorite, so there is a lot of concern. But, May and Goldin have plenty of NCAA Tournament experience, something UC San Diego +2.5 (-110) has none of. Michigan likely will get a scare, but it will do enough to survive and advance.
UNDER 141.5 (-105) is worth a look in the nightcap in Denver.
The total has gone low in 3 of the past 5 games for Michigan, while going low at a 9-6 clip in the previous 15 outings since Jan. 27.
The Triton have cashed low at a 3-0-1 pace in the past 4 games, while going 6-1-1 in the previous 8 outings. UC San Diego allowed just 61.6 PPG, which ranked sixth in the nation, while allowing 39.6% from the field, ranking 12th.
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And his wife was still at home, posting on Instagram near the end of the race. "I was a little nervous just because we put the Lap 50 cutoff," Hamlin said. "If it happens before Lap 50, I just go ahead and get out, just because of the time. "If it was after, I thought that by the time she gets her s--- together and gets to the hospital, all that stuff? You just never how it all turns out. But I think I can make it, as long as I had a three-hour window." It marked the third win of the year for Hamlin and his 57th career victory in his 701st start. Now it's on to Mexico City, and Hamlin indicated he would be willing to stay home if Fish has not given birth by the weekend. Obviously, it is a much longer flight from there than it would have been from Michigan to his North Carolina home. NASCAR would grant Hamlin a waiver to miss a race and consider it for medical reasons, meaning he would still make the playoffs and get to keep playoff points earned during the season. 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The same could have been said for the way Hamlin grabbed the lead just when he needed to and held on for the victory. "He kind of thrives in chaos, right?" Heather Gibbs said. "It was true, we wanted to get him in the car. ... He's as cool as they come, that's for sure." Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
