Michigan-Montana Betting Odds: Opening Spread, Analysis for 2019 NCAA Tournament

#2 Michigan vs. #15 Montana NCAA Tournament Betting Odds

• Spread: Michigan -15.5
• Over/Under: 131.5
• Date: Thursday, March 21
• Time: 9:20 p.m. ET
• Location: Des Moines, Iowa
• TV: TNT

Michigan's Statistical Profile

The Michigan Wolverines check in as the sixth-best team in the country, per KenPom’s Adjusted Efficiency Margin metric. This team imposes its will on the defensive end of the court, ranking third in adjusted defense while playing excruciatingly slow in terms of pace.

Clocking in as the sixth-best team in the country according to KenPom, Michigan should be a contender to win the national championship … as long as they don't run into rival Michigan State. The Spartans handed the Wolverines three of their six losses on the season, including a defeat in Sunday's Big Ten Conference Championship game. — PJ Walsh

• Record: 28-6
• Adj. Efficiency Rank: 6
• Adj. Offensive Efficiency Rank: 18
• Adj. Defensive Efficiency Rank: 3
• Tempo Rank: 317

All advanced metrics via KenPom as of Friday, March 15

Montana's Statistical Profile

Montana is the king of the Big Sky! Ranked 137th in KenPom’s adjusted efficiency rankings, the Grizzlies aren’t expected to do much in the tournament, but there are definitely worse teams that got auto bids out there. Their best win of the season probably came in their first game when they beat Georgia State — which isn’t saying much.

They were easily beaten by other tougher non-conference opponents such as Creighton (98-72) and Arizona (61-42). Last year, they lost by 14 points to No. 3 seed Michigan in the first round of the tournament. Way back in ’75 they made the Sweet 16, but their tournament appearances haven’t amounted to much since then. — Mark Gallant

• Record: 26-8
• Adj. Efficiency Rank: 137
• Adj. Offensive Efficiency Rank: 114
• Adj. Defensive Efficiency Rank: 188
• Tempo Rank: 221

All advanced metrics via KenPom as of Friday, March 15

Sean Koerner's Michigan-Montana Projections

Sean Koerner's proprietary projections also power our Bracket Simulator, which helps you find the most optimal bracket for your pool size.

• Spread: Michigan -19.5
• Total: 132.5
• Proj Score: Michigan 76 | Montana 56.5
• Win Probability: Michigan 97.7% | Montana 2.3%