Michigan Wolverines: Final Four In Reach As Strong Elite 8 Favorite Vs. UCLA

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Once again, the highly-ranked Michigan team has secured a spot in the Elite Eight, placing them just a single victory away from making their second appearance in the Final Four within a span of four seasons.

Following a remarkable performance against Florida State on Sunday, will the Wolverines be able to devise another effective game strategy when they face off against UCLA, the No. 11 seed, on Tuesday?

Let’s take a closer examination of the game and delve into the thoughts of the oddsmakers regarding Michigan’s prospects in the Elite Eight.

Oddsmakers have Michigan as significant favorite

The East Region final between Michigan and UCLA is set to begin at 9:57 p.m. on Tuesday at Lucas Oil Stadium, airing on TBS.

According to oddsmakers, Michigan is heavily favored in this March Madness game. They are commonly regarded as a 7.5-point favorite in the majority of MI sportsbooks, although some lines suggest a 7-point spread. The predicted total score, also known as the over/under, is approximately 136.5 points.

Michigan and UCLA have not played against each other since December 9, 2017. It is worth noting that in three out of their last four games against UCLA, Michigan emerged victorious and also covered the spread.

UCLA is currently leading in early public betting, with 58% of the handle, as per Covers.com’s bet-tracking charts. Consequently, a spare sportsbook is offering a 7-point line.

Wolverines stifle Florida State in Sweet 16

Michigan had their strongest performance of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, defeating No. 4 seed Florida State with a score of 76-58, securing their spot in the Elite Eight.

Michigan’s Wolverines displayed unwavering focus and readiness on both offense and defense. On the defensive end, they stifled Florida State by limiting their 3-point shooting to a mere 5-for-20 and imposing 14 turnovers.

In terms of offense, Michigan took the initiative by pressuring FSU into committing 22 fouls, while only incurring 10 fouls themselves.

Despite the Wolverines’ low shooting percentage of 27% from long distance, they effectively capitalized on second-chance opportunities to successfully conclude their possessions.

Hunter Dickinson and Brandon Johns Jr. led the way with 14 points each, showcasing a well-balanced scoring effort.

Franz Wagner contributed 13 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, whereas Chaundee Brown made a valuable contribution of 12 points as a substitute player.

Sunday’s victory made it evident that Michigan is successfully progressing without the presence of Isaiah Livers. The Wolverines have formally announced his exclusion from the tournament due to his foot injury.

UCLA … from First Four to Final Four?

UCLA aims to become the second team in tournament history to advance to the Final Four after participating in the First Four, following in the footsteps of VCU who achieved this feat in 2011.

Throughout Sunday’s regional semifinal, the Bruins maintained a lead over No. 2 Alabama. However, their victory was snatched away in the final seconds of regulation when Alex Reese’s buzzer-beater 3-pointer forced the game into overtime.

However, the Bruins remained composed and did not allow the pressure of the moment to affect them. They showcased their dominance over the Tide in the additional period, securing a victory with a 10-point lead. UCLA’s offensive prowess was unstoppable during overtime, as they managed to score an impressive 23 points.

The entire starting lineup achieved double-digit scores, with Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Jules Bernard contributing 17 points each and combining for a total of 14 rebounds. Additionally, David Singleton made a valuable contribution off the bench with 15 points.

Out of all the Pac-12 Conference teams, only three have managed to make it to the Elite Eight, and UCLA is one of them.

Michigan must keep offense churning vs. Bruins

In order to secure a spot in the Final Four, Michigan must persist with the same gameplan that has guided them throughout the tournament.

Michigan’s defense has been executed efficiently by the Wolverines, forcing opponents to struggle in finding open shots. On offense, Michigan has demonstrated excellent ball-sharing skills and managed to score impressive point totals. Throughout the course of three tournament games, Michigan has maintained an average of 81.3 points.

Michigan will be going up against UCLA on Tuesday, whose defense permits their opponents to have a shooting percentage of 44%.

UCLA has scored an average of 78.5 points in their four tournament games, taking into account two overtime sessions. However, they have yet to encounter a defense as formidable as Michigan’s and have not confronted a dominant force in the paint like Dickinson.

Michigan sports bettors might find the spread worrisome, as it is quite a large number of points for Michigan to cover given the current stage of the postseason.

UCLA has an undefeated 4-0 record against the spread in their four tournament games. However, it is important to mention that UCLA has been favored in betting only on one occasion.

In the tournament, Michigan has an ATS record of 2-1 and has successfully covered the spread in their previous two games. Nevertheless, as a 7.5-point favorite or more, the Wolverines have struggled with a 2-4 ATS record in their last six matches.

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