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The biggest game of this first week of college basketball comes from Boston, MA, where the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines duel the UConn Huskies.
This is a National Championship rematch, and Dan Hurley and Co. will look to get their revenge in what should be a pro-UConn environment.
Read below for how to bet UConn vs. Michigan, including NCAAB picks for Friday's marquee matchup.
Be sure to download the Action Network app for more expert picks and analysis!
UConn vs Michigan Best Bets
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UConn vs Michigan: Spread Pick
By Greg Waddell
Michigan will go as its guards go this season, and it's hard to dream up a more difficult matchup for Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney than this UConn perimeter defense.
If Na'jai Hines can avoid foul trouble, he'll bother the new-look Michigan frontcourt, one that's replacing three lottery picks.
Moustapha Thiam replaces Aday Mara theoretically, but the talented Cincinnati transfer floats to the perimeter too often and still has a lot to prove in the physicality department.
Thiam missed Michigan's opener, and his status is unknown coming into this game. J.P. Estrella will try to help in Morez Johnson Jr.'s old role, but Estrella hasn't looked fully comfortable playing more on the perimeter offensively.
Moreover, the deeper into the bench this game goes for either side, the larger UConn's talent advantage will show.
And if Thiam isn't at full strength, this could get ugly.
Expect Hurley to get his revenge, with some style points this time.
Pick: UConn -5.5 (Play to -8)
UConn vs Michigan: Spread Pick
By: Evan Abrams
My Bet Labs Sports Insights system called "Bad Expectation Favorites" says that the play for this game is on UConn to cover the spread.
This system owns a 4% return on investment (ROI) all-time, including a 54% hit rate (359-310-14).
This system focuses on early-season college basketball favorites that underperformed expectations the year before (UConn was 18-22 ATS and just 15-22 as a favorite).
These teams typically won games outright but failed to cover spreads, leading bettors to view them as unreliable favorites.
The market often reacts by undervaluing them at the start of the new season, creating opportunity in games one through nine when rosters have matured and preseason adjustments take hold.
By limiting to spreads inside 10 points, the focus stays on competitive matchups where talent can outweigh perception.
These teams usually return enough production to remain strong straight-up, but now carry lighter betting pressure and more realistic lines.
In essence, "Bad Expectation Favorites" are teams that disappointed gamblers last season but have corrected their market price early, offering value before the betting public catches up.
Pick: UConn -5.5
UConn vs Michigan: Over/Under Pick
By: Colby Marchio
If you have debated the over in this ballgame, just think about who coaches the UConn Huskies: a madman by the name of Dan Hurley.
If you don't think that loss in the National Championship game has been on his mind since falling to Michigan, you must not be familiar with Hurley's game.
This game should be a fistfight, with a very slow, suffocating pace. The kind of basketball your father and uncle can enjoy while complaining about how today's NBA has turned into a track meet with little interest in playing defense.
Even with this being a neutral-site matchup, UConn will force the Wolverines to play slowly. Michigan may get this game moving a little faster than Hurley would like, but his boys will bring plenty of tenacity on the defensive end.
With Dusty May now coaching in the NBA, Mike Boynton Jr. takes over. The Wolverines return just one starter from a year ago, along with a few other pieces from their championship team.
This is going to be a very talented Michigan squad, but Hurley should have his boys more than motivated for this matchup.
Hurley returns two starters from a year ago, Braylon Mullins and Silas Demary Jr. Both guys should still have the taste of blood in their mouths, just like their head coach.
Expect a good old-fashioned rock fight in Boston.
Pick: Under 146.5
UConn vs Michigan: Over/Under Pick
By: Charlie DiSturco
All eyes turn to the National Championship rematch Friday, as Dan Hurley and Connecticut look to take down Michigan and new head coach Mike Boynton Jr.
This is a much different Michigan squad from last season. While the backcourt remains relatively familiar, Dusty May departed for the NBA, along with his trio of superstar big men in Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara.
The Wolverines will now lean heavily on Tennessee transfer J.P. Estrella, who opened the season with an impressive 15-point, 12-rebound performance.
Moustapha Thiam is also on track to make his season debut, a critical 7-foot-2 big to command the interior.
My biggest concern with this team, however, is its shooting.
Elliot Cadeau returns to run the point after shooting 37.6% from beyond the arc last season. However, I'd argue that number was largely a product of the attention Lendeborg and Michigan's size commanded rather than a true shooting leap.
Outside of Trey McKenney (39.1% from three last season), Michigan doesn't have many proven perimeter threats. Freshman Quinn Costello attempted 10 triples in the season opener, knocking down three, while the Wolverines shot 20.6% from beyond the arc.
While Michigan prefers to push the pace, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this game turn into a rock fight.
Connecticut operates at the opposite end of the spectrum, running a methodical offense. Last season, the Huskies ranked 322nd nationally in adjusted tempo, and their season-opening performance has them sitting at 318th.
When these styles collide, the advantage often goes to the slower team. UConn isn't going to win this game by dominating in transition. Instead, its length and defensive versatility should create problems for Michigan.
Both T-Rank and KenPom have the Huskies ranked inside the top five nationally in defensive efficiency.
With Solo Ball out for the season, the Huskies will need Nik Khamenia (Duke) and Na’Jai Hines (Seton Hall) to step up alongside Braylon Mullins.
Given that it’s only the second game of the season and both teams are dealing with roster turnover, I’m not sold on either offense finding much consistency. Against legitimate defensive competition, this has the makings of a much slower-paced game.
I’ll gladly take the under in this National Championship rematch.
Pick: Under 146.5
