Vegas: Michigan Underdogs vs. Louisville

sounds about right.

I will say that Louisville looked a lot more vulnerable than I expected them to yesterday.

And I was kind of hoping they would.

Then again, Wichita State's rebounding might have posed a real problem for us.

Was not a better matchup.

This team is so different from what all the season stats and rankings say because of McGary.  He totally changes the team by putting a 5th scorer on the floor for most of the game and his defensive hustle.  Not surprising they've beaten the spread 5 times so far.

I never "pick" or bet pre-game but I have no issue with this. They have great guards, bigs that are physical and can shoot and are generally (IMHO) have been the best/most consistent team in the country all year. Yet, if we show up it should be a very good game.

Perfect. Shock the world.

I prefer it!!

ALL eyes of the basketball world will be watching the Maize and Blue on Monday night!  Let's all eat subs and get CRAZY !

Go Blue!

this doesn't mean much.  those spreads mean that vegas is guessing that louisville would win approximately 55-58% of hypothetical matchups.  they're not a huge favorite.

I hope someone from UL makes fun of Mitch McGary today.

From what I saw yesterday, Michigan is the better team - more disciplined, more momentum, good matchups against Louisville, and the best player in college basketball.  Go Blue!

We do our best work when we're not favored.

Vegas spreads are NOT based on what they think the margin will be, but where the money will go.  They don't want the money 50/50 on each side.  Spread moves when money comes in heavy on one side.

So, the money, and most of the media, continue to underestimate us.

Cool.

A game of runnin' & gunnin', tagged with the "underdog" moniker? You'd be a fool to bet against Burke & co. Michigan by 10.

The "us against the world/no respect" angle always helps.  The underdog goes in with a perception of less to lose than the favorite.

I can fully understand the bettors putting more money on Louisville, too.  Anyone who hasn't followed Michigan sees a team that started out great, took a relative dive at the end of the regular season, and has squeaked out a bunch of games in the Tournament.  Meanwhile, Louisville has been seen as close to a prohibitive favorite since the Tournament began.  

I think the difference will be that Louisville is struggling to hold on to their position, while Michigan has been clawing their way up, and improving on a game to game basis.  Michigan pretty much won last night while nobody really had his shot falling from the perimeter.  Hardaway, Burke, and Stauskas went a combined 5-29 and Michigan still won.

If they had shot a mere 35%, this game would have been a blowout.  Instead, the biggest contributions came inside from Mitch and GRIII, combining for 9-15, and the bench, which went 7-9.  The bench outscored Hardaway, Burke, and Stauskas, 21-20.

This has all of the makings of a "team of destiny."  Somebody always steps up.  And now, Michigan gets to be the underdog.

Did you guys hear about that player from UL who just totally made fun of McGary?!?

Ware was a big loss for Louisville.  They now only have two guards who are really good at pressing full court.  Pitino had to back off during most of the first half against Wichita State to ensure he didn't wear down Silva and Smith or get them in foul trouble. 

With Michigan's ability to beat a press (see VCU), this should be an entertaining game.