Michigan vs. Rutgers prediction and odds for Thursday, February 23

The Michigan Wolverines and Rutgers Scarlet Knights are both caught up in the logjam that is the mid-tier of the Big Ten this season.

Nobody is really separating themselves outside of Purdue and Northwestern up top and Ohio State and Minnesota at the bottom.

Michigan is 15-12 and 9-7 in conference play while Rutgers is 17-10, but also 9-7 in conference play. There are four teams at 9-7 in Big Ten play.

Indiana is in third place at 10-7 and there are six teams within just one game of it in the standings.

Michigan got a win at home over Michigan State last time out, but the Wolverines are 1-2 in their last three.

Rutgers is 1-3 in its last four games, but was also a winner in its most recent game. That was a 58-57 win over Wisconsin.

Here are the odds for Michigan and Rutgers in New Jersey tonight:

Michigan vs. Rutgers odds, spread and total

Michigan vs. Rutgers prediction and pick

This game will be about how strong Rutgers is defensively and its ability to shut down Hunter Dickinson.

Dickinson averages 17.6 points a game and is the real focal point for Michigan offensively. Clifford Omoruyi will be tasked with stopping Dickinson. He averages 2.1 blocks per game and anchors the team that allows the ninth fewest points per game in the entire country at 59.9.

Rutgers also forces its opponents to shoot 38.8% from the field which is fifth in the country and 30.0% from 3,  which is 20th. The Scarlet Knights are also fourth in defensive efficiency.

That’s why they’re able to win games in the 50s, like their win over Wisconsin last weekend.

I think they will slow this game down to a crawl and force Michigan to execute in the halfcourt.

Rutgers forces 14.9 turnovers per game and while Michigan only turns it over 9.9 times, third in the Big Ten, I think Rutgers will force it into mistakes and the Scarlet Knights will win convincingly at home.

Follow all Josh Yourish’s bets HERE

—

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change