The La Salle Explorers (4-8) and No. 1 Michigan Wolverines (10-0) meet Sunday at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET (Peacock). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NCAA basketball odds around the La Salle vs. Michigan odds and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions for the best bets.
Michigan won the only previous meeting on Dec. 29, 1975, an 86-71 win in Las Vegas. La Salle is the worst team on Michigan’s schedule, according to the KenPom rankings, checking in at 264th. La Salle coach Darris Nichols and Michigan coach Dusty May worked on the same staff as assistants at Florida.
La Salle suffered an 84-72 loss at the High Point Panthers Friday as 14-point underdogs as the Over (149.5) cashed. Explorers G Jaeden Marshall went for 22 points, including 8-of-8 from the free-throw line. Marshall leads La Salle with 12.6 points per game (PPG) and 20 made 3-pointers, hitting at least 2 triples in 5 consecutive outings. The Explorers are 3-2 ATS in the past 5 games, and the Under has a 5-2 edge in the past 7 contests.
Michigan routed the Maryland Terrapins 101-83 last time out on Dec. 13, but it missed the cover as a 19-point spread. F Yaxel Lendeborg went for 29 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds with 3 blocks and 2 steals while hitting 8-of-11 from the field. Still, Michigan is 5-1 against the spread (ATS) in the past 6 games, and it has scored 101 or more points in 4 of the past 5 outings.
– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
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La Salle at Michigan odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated 1:47 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Off the board
- Against the spread: La Salle +39.5 (-110) | Michigan -39.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 153.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
La Salle at Michigan picks and predictionsPrediction
Michigan 102, La Salle 61
AVOID.
Move along — nothing to see here.
MICHIGAN -39.5 (-110) is laying a big number, but the Wolverines have routinely hit triple digits lately, and La Salle is easily the worst team the Wolverines have faced to date. Expect the Wolverines to hit the century mark yet again, while the Explorers really struggle offensively. It wouldn’t be shocking to see La Salle have trouble getting to even 60 points at Crisler on Sunday.
OVER 153.5 (-110) is worth a play, mainly because of the Wolverines. They should be able to reach triple digits rather easily, going most of the heavy lifting to get this across the finish line for the Over.
Michigan could hold La Salle below 60 points while still getting the job done for the Over. The Explorers have allowed teams to hit 35.9% from behind the 3-point line, so expect the Wolverines to start past, and flirt with 60 points by halftime.
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