NCAA College Basketball Odds: Penn State at No 16 Michigan
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Frank Martin
Michigan Wolverines didn’t play its best basketball during non-conference play, but the 16th-ranked Wolverines managed to maintain their national ranking in both polls.
That’s a notable achievement given that they’ll enter Big Ten play — which begins Thursday against Penn State Nittany Lions — ranked for just the second time in the last 14 years.
The question now is whether or not this Wolverines squad has the chance to become an elite team and make a run at its first conference title since 1986. Penn State, meanwhile, has modest expectations and will play the first of two straight road games to open up its Big Ten schedule. Michigan swept the season series last year.
-
Penn State Nittany Lions
@ #16 Michigan Wolverines
When:
7:30 PM ET, Thursday, December 29, 2011
Where:
Crisler Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan
TV:
7:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network.
The Wolverines have opened as 11.5-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NCAA Basketball Odds.
Penn State Nittany Lions (8-5): After opening December with three consecutive losses, Penn State has responded by winning two straight — a 72-43 victory over Mount St. Mary’s, then a 74-67 win against Cornell. The Nittany Lions will now try to win their conference opener for the fifth time in the last six years. Tim Frazier averages a team-high 17.2 points for Penn State, which has lost two of its three road games this year. He finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds in the win over Cornell, the Nittany Lions’ final non-conference game of the season.
Michigan Wolverines (10-2): The Wolverines were last ranked in the top 25 entering Big Ten play in the 2008-09 season before promptly dropping their conference opener. That year, they started 4-6 in league play before evening their record at .500 by season’s end to sneak into the NCAA Tournament. Michigan should be able to knock off Penn State, projected to be among the Big Ten’s worst teams, but will need to keep up its offensive efficiency. The Wolverines have scored 76 or more in four of their last five games.
1.
Penn State is 7-12 all-time in Big Ten openers.
2. Michigan is a perfect 7-0 at home so far this year.
3. This
will mark the third straight year that the Nittany Lions will open their league
schedule on the road.
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crisler arena - michigan wolverines - penn state nittany lions - tim frazier