Michigan vs. UMBC/Howard Odds
| Michigan Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
TBD -110 | TBD -110o / -110u | TBD |
| Howard Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
TBD -110 | TBD -110o / -110u | TBD |
The 2026 NCAA Tournament field has been announced and Michigan will take on the winner of UMBC vs Howard in Round 1 of the Midwest region. Here's everything you need to know about Michigan vs. UMBC/Howard odds, spread and more.
Find out how No. 16-seeded UMBC/Howard and No. 1-seeded Michigan match up ahead of their opening round matchup.
Michigan vs. UMBC/Howard Analysis
If you’re Michigan, I’m not sure there’s a heavy lean when rooting for an opponent to emerge from Dayton. That is, unless you’re Michigan big man Aday Mara.
The 7-foot-3 transfer from UCLA was dominant all season, winning the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Award. If he looks at these two lineups, he might be interested in a matchup with Howard.
The Bison don’t start a player taller than 6-foot-7 and only have one player that tall who plays, freshman Danas Kazakevicius, who essentially fell out of the rotation and hasn’t topped two rebounds since January 15. Offensively, Mara would feast on the block, and he’d have his way on the glass. Defensively, however, Howard would make him chase to the perimeter, or he’d dare the Howard forwards to make shots.
It’s a similar thought process to Zach Edey against Fairleigh Dickinson. I can remember writing up the same sort of idea for this post on Selection Sunday three years ago. We all remember how that turned out, with the turnover-hungry Fairleigh Dickinson defense causing chaos. Howard does the same, ranking top 10 in turnovers forced.
Maybe Michigan does have a rooting interest after all, ironically hoping for one-time 16-seed darling UMBC to advance.
-Shane McNichol
For more coverage of the 2026 NCAA Tournament and Selection Sunday, make sure to check out our experts' live reactions to the bracket reveal and the Selection Sunday live show, where you can get their instant analysis on every matchup as well as some early insights to help you make your bets.
