The sixth-ranked Michigan Wolverines will get an early test from the MAC favorite Buffalo Bulls when they meet in non-conference action on Wednesday night. The Bulls (15-9 in 2020-21), the favorite among league coaches to win both the league and tournament title, enter the season as one of the most veteran programs in the nation. The 17 active players on Buffalo's roster have an average age of 21.6 years old. The Wolverines (23-5), who won the Big Ten title last year, will play in front of home fans for the first time since the end of the 2019-20 season.
Tip-off from Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich., is set for 6:30 p.m. ET. The Wolverines are 12.5-point favorites in the latest Buffalo vs. Michigan odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is set at 153.5. Before making any Michigan vs. Buffalo picks, make sure you check out the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. Over the past five years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of $2,200 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Buffalo vs. Michigan and locked in its college basketball picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the college basketball lines and trends for Michigan vs. Buffalo:
- Buffalo vs. Michigan spread: Michigan -12.5
- Buffalo vs. Michigan over-under: 153.5 points
- Buffalo vs. Michigan money line: Buffalo +650, Michigan -1000
- BUF: The Bulls are 5-0-1 against the spread in their last six road games
- MICH: The Wolverines are 6-0 ATS in their last six Wednesday games
Why Michigan can cover
Sophomore center Hunter Dickinson is the Wolverines' top returner. The Associated Press All-America second-team selection averaged 14.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game last season. He posted five double-doubles in 2020-21 and had five 20-plus point performances, including a 28-point effort against Minnesota. He also had a 26-point, 11-rebound game against Maryland.
Also powering Michigan is guard DeVante' Jones, a graduate transfer from Coastal Carolina. The Sun Belt Player of the Year in 2020-21 averaged 19.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. He scored a career-high 35 points against Alice Lloyd last December, and finished his Coastal Carolina career with 1,381 points, 460 rebounds and 341 assists. He recorded 66 double-figure games and 12 double-doubles.
Why Buffalo can cover
The Bulls are coming off a 105-54 victory over Medaille in its lone exhibition game. They return senior forward Jeenathan Williams, who led the team in scoring in 2020-21. In 25 games played, Williams averaged 17.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game, hitting on 48.6 percent of his shots from the floor, including 38.6 from 3-point range. He was named to the preseason All-MAC first team and is just 76 points from becoming the 24th Buffalo player to reach the 1,000-point mark.
Also returning is senior forward Josh Mballa. In 22 games, he averaged 15.3 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He connected on 48.6 percent of his shots from the floor. Mballa was named a preseason first-team All-MAC selection and was named the 2021 MAC Defensive Player of the Year.
How to make Buffalo vs. Michigan picks
SportsLine's model is leaning under on the point total, projecting 150 combined points. It has also generated an against-the-spread pick that cashes in well over 60 percent of simulations. You can only get the model's Michigan vs. Buffalo picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Buffalo vs. Michigan? And which side of the spread cashes in well over 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Buffalo vs. Michigan spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is up $2,200 on its college basketball picks the last five years, and find out.
