9:57 pm
March 30

NCAA Tournament East Region: #11 UCLA v. #1 Michigan

Who will WIN this matchup?

#11 UCLA Bruins (21-9)

#1 Michigan Wolverines (23-4)

 

Current odds:

UCLA Bruins: (+250)

Michigan Wolverines: (-320)

 

• The spread for the game is Michigan by 6.5 points.

• The 11th-seeded Bruins aim to win their fifth straight tourney game when they attempt to upset top-seeded Michigan in Tuesday night’s East Regional final at Indianapolis. The Bruins (21-9) are attempting to join Virginia Commonwealth in 2011 as the only schools to go from being relegated to the NCAA Tournament’s First Four to crashing the Final Four. They earned their date with the Wolverines by posting an exhilarating 88-78 overtime win over second-seeded Alabama on Sunday.

• The Bruins were mired in a four-game losing streak before starting their tournament run by defeating Michigan State in overtime in the First Four. They have followed up with double-digit victories over BYU, Abilene Christian and the Crimson Tide.

• Michigan certainly is operating on all cylinders after trampling fourth-seeded Florida State 76-58 on Sunday. The Wolverines began their push with wins over Texas Southern and LSU but ramped up their effort against the Seminoles, and the whipping included a 50-28 edge in points in the paint.

• The Wolverines are experiencing their March Madness success without standout senior forward Isaiah Livers (foot). Howard said he remains out indefinitely. This marks the fifth time the schools have met in the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins won three of the previous four meetings, including a 91-80 win in the 1965 national championship game when Gail Goodrich poured in 42 points.

6/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
#1 Michigan Wolverines
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