Saturday NCAA: South Region – Michigan vs. Oklahoma
The South No. 10 seed Michigan Wolverines nearly blew their first NCAA Tournament game in 11 years, but UM hung on to upset Clemson Thursday and its reward is a date with the No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners and national player of the Blake Griffin.
The Sooners have opened as 6.5-point favorites on WagerWeb.com.
Griffin, who almost assuredly will be the top pick in the NBA draft, averages 21.9 points and 14.3 rebounds per game. Michigan generally has four guards on the floor and has no one equipped to match up with Griffin in the paint, so expect waves of players – and double-teams.
In OU’s first-round win over Morgan State, Griffin was yanked by Morgan State’s Ameer Ali, who flipped Griffin over his shoulder and onto his backside. Ali was ejected for that.
“We just got tangled up and it … turned out bad,” said Griffin, who had 28 points and 13 rebounds. “(It’s) just my tailbone a little bit. My back’s been hurt before. It’s my tailbone, which will be better in time.”
With Griffin no doubt the focus of the UM defense, Sooners point guard Willie Warren, who averages 14.7 points per game, may have to step up. And Taylor Griffin, who averages 9.6 ppg and 6.0 rebounds, also should get some open looks.
Meanwhile, Michigan’s twosome of Manny Harris (he had 23 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished six assists against Clemson) and DeShawn Sims can give any team problems. Sims struggled against the Tigers with just nine points on 4-for-12 shooting but guaranteed a better effort Saturday. Sims, by the way, will probably get the main defensive responsibility on Blake Griffin. But the Wolverines will need another huge game from Harris to pull the upset.
Purdue is the only common opponent Michigan and Oklahoma have faced. The Sooners beat the Boilermakers 87-82 in overtime Nov. 28 in the NIT Season Tipoff final at Madison Square Garden. Michigan split with Purdue, winning at home 87-78 and losing at Purdue 67-49.
WagerWeb.com Trends
* Wolverines are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 non-conference games.
* Wolverines are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
* Wolverines are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Wolverines are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
* Wolverines are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog.
* Wolverines are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 Saturday games.
* Wolverines are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 neutral site games as an underdog.
* Sooners are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite of 0.5-6.5.
* Sooners are 6-13 ATS in their last 19 neutral site games as a favorite.
* Sooners are 8-19 ATS in their last 27 neutral site games.
* Sooners are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a S.U. win.
* Sooners are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
* Sooners are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 NCAA Tournament games as a favorite of 0.5-6.5.
* Sooners are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
* Sooners are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
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