The second of the Final Four matchups sees the Michigan Wolverines taking on the Arizona Wildcats. Both teams are 1st seeds, so they will feel they can win the whole tournament if they navigate this round. Michigan is the slight favorite, but both teams are extremely close in terms of rankings.
Matchup: Michigan Wolverines vs. Arizona Wildcats Overview
- 8:49 pm ET tipoff at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana
- Michigan Wolverines: 1st seed, 35-3 record
- Arizona Wildcats: 1st seed, 36-2 record
- Michigan beat Tennessee in the previous round
- Arizona beat Purdue in the previous round
Win Probabilities
| Team | Win Probability |
| Michigan Wolverines | 53% |
| Arizona Wildcats | 47% |
Michigan is the highest-ranked team left in the tournament. After UConn knocked out Duke, its Net ranking is 2, compared to 3 for Arizona. It’s due to this that gives Michigan the slight edge in March Madness odds and lines.
Both teams are on strong winning runs, with Michigan winning the last 18 and Arizona winning the last 27. Neither side has any injury troubles, with sports news reporting clean bills of health. It ensures full rosters, which should make for an entertaining game.
Projected Final Score
Making a basketball prediction on this matchup is challenging. As both teams are 1st seeds, it means they are close in terms of strength, and it could go either way. It doesn’t matter who wins, it wouldn’t be a shock to see either team in the final.
Each team has also won every March Madness game by at least double digits. It shows the relative strength of the Wolverines and Wildcats, and could lead to a close game in this Final Four matchup.
Most NCAAB odds see Michigan as the favorite, but it’s not by much. The over for this game looks like 157.5, so an 80-78 to Michigan is our prediction.
Expert Prediction: Who Wins?
Neither team has played each other this season, so there aren’t any recent results to take into account. It’s this that makes it one of the most interesting games of the season, and is perfect for March Madness.
Both teams have been high scoring recently, but Michigan has hit 90 or more points in its last 5 games. This, combined with the higher Net ranking, leads basketball odds and lines to favor Michigan, and we agree with this conclusion.
Why Michigan Can Win
Michigan is on a strong run of scoring. It’s hit over 90 points in each of its last 5 games, and has hit over 100 in 2 of them. The lack of a previous game means there’s nothing to compare, but Michigan has a higher overall Net ranking, showing that it’s slightly stronger going into this game.
Michigan also scores more per game over the whole season, adding a slight advantage over Arizona.
Why Arizona Can Win
Arizona beat Purdue in the previous round, which is a team that has beaten Michigan during the regular season. Also, while Michigan scores more points per game, Arizona concedes fewer points per game.
How to Make Your Michigan vs. Arizona Picks
Making picks on the Michigan vs Arizona game requires a combination of skills. Your first port of call is to check the statistics. Player form, team performance, style clashes, and potential injuries will all impact the potential outcome. Adding this to your own knowledge of the game allows you to make informed picks.
Michigan Recent Trends
- Last 5 games: W-W-W-W-W
- ATS: 18-20
- Season Stats: 35-3
- Won 18 games in a row
Michigan Recent Stats
| Category | Value |
| Points Per Game | 87.7 |
| Opponent PPG | 69.6 |
| FG% | 50.5 |
Michigan Leaders
- Points: Yaxel Lendeborg (15.2)
- Rebounds: Morez Johnson Jr (7.3)
- Assists: Elliot Cadeau (5.8)
Michigan Player Performance Projections
There’s a good spread in terms of performance for Michigan. Four players are in double digits for points, and three have over 6.5 rebounds. Yaxel Lendeborg is the key player, adding 7 rebounds to his 15.2 assists, but Morez Johnson Jr isn’t far behind with 13.2 points.
Arizona Recent Trends
- Last 5 games: W-W-W-W-W
- ATS: 23-15
- Season Stats: 36-2
- 8th for rebounds per game
Arizona Recent Stats
| Category | Value |
| Points Per Game | 86.5 |
| Opponent PPG | 68.8 |
| FG% | 50.2 |
Arizona Leaders
- Points: Brayden Berries (16.1)
- Rebounds: Tobe Awaka (9.1)
- Assists: Jaden Bradley (4.4)
Arizona Player Performance Projections
Arizona has strong players across the court, with 2 guards and 2 forwards that can interchange without weakening the roster. Brayden Berries is the most consistent points scorer, but there are four other players who are in double digits for points. The roster strength could give Arizona an advantage.
Key Factors That Could Decide the Game
The biggest factor in deciding the game is who wants to win the most. Both teams are very evenly matched, and it’s genuinely challenging to choose a winner. While Michigan is the favorite, it’s by a paper-thin margin, and an Arizona win wouldn’t be much of an upset. If Arizona attacks the game with more vigor, then they could claim a minor underdog victory.
Final Prediction Summary
Michigan is the favorite on paper, but this isn’t a matchup with an obvious winner. If you really want to challenge your prediction credentials, then choosing the correct winner could be the most challenging pick of the year. We’re going with Michigan, but it’s not with complete confidence.
UP NEXT: UConn Huskies vs Illinois Prediction
