I’ll admit it’s still strange to see USC as a member of the Big Ten. The new alignment does make for some good matchups, though, and we have one on Saturday when the Trojans host the Michigan Wolverines. Tip is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on FOX from the Galen Center in Los Angeles. USC split its first two Big Ten games in what was a Pac-12 reunion. Troy beat Washington and lost to Oregon and will get a taste of real Big Ten hoops with games against Indiana and Illinois following this one. Though the competition was suspect the Trojans enter on a roll having won four straight all by more than 20 points while covering the closing line at the Bitcoin sportsbook. Michigan recovered from back to back losses winning its last two contests by averaging more than 100 points.
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Michigan Wolverines
This is likely the farthest Michigan has had to travel for a conference game, which is the new normal in college athletics. The Wolverines should at least be rested since they haven’t played since Dec. 29 when they blasted Western Kentucky 112-64. It was the second time this season they topped the century mark and they average 84 points on the strength of a top 10 field goal percentage. UM has scored more than 80 points in each of its last five games going OVER the closing total four times.
Two straight wins moved the Wolverines to 10-3 overall and they’re only a few points away from being mentioned as one of the best teams in the country. Last month they lost 89-87 to Arkansas and were defeated in their next outing, 87-86, by No. 14 Oklahoma. In their second game of the season UM suffered a 72-70 setback to wake Forest. Those three clubs are currently a combined 34-6 and UM lost them by a total of five points. The Wolverines also proved they can win close games knocking off Wisconsin and Iowa in their first two Big Ten games by a total of five points.
Michigan can score having surpassed the 70-point mark in all but one game so far. They’re averaging nearly 92 points in their last five outings with three players averaging more than 12 points. Vladislov Goldin leads the way with 13.9 points per game and 5.8 rebounds. He had 17 points on 7 of 8 shooting against WKU and has scored at least 20 points in three of his last six games while shooting 75 percent from the field. As a team the Wolverines shoot better than 51 percent from the floor.
USC Trojans
USC ended its non-conference schedule on a roll, but the Trojans haven’t played since beating Southern, 82-51, on Dec. 22. Having a two-week break before taking on one of the Big Ten leaders isn’t ideal, but that’s what they face. The Trojans should be feeling good about themselves after closing 2024 with a bang overcoming an otherwise rocky start. Prior to their Dec. 7 game with Washington, the Trojans had lost three in a row, including an embarrassing 71-36 setback to Saint Mary’s, and were just 2-4 SU and 0-6 ATS in a six-game stretch. Their wins were against Grambling and San Jose State when favored by at least 17-points.
The current streak is a welcome relief for new coach Eric Musselman, who was tabbed to guide the program in its first season in the Big Ten. The schedule so far is questionable. USC has won games it was supposed to win going 8-1 SU when favored. However, some of those were much closer, especially earlier in the season when they failed to get a payout in their first five games when laying points.
Unlike Michigan, which doesn’t have a player averaging more than 30 minutes, the Trojans have four such players and very little bench strength. Those four combine to score more than 62 percent of the teams points, led by Desmond Claude, who averages 14.5 points on better than 52 percent shooting from the field. While we could easily see points scored I don’t think USC has the firepower. Their games against better teams resulted in losses to Oregon and Saint Mary’s.
Michigan at USC Same Game Parlay Picks
Michigan ATS
Michigan / USC OVER
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