Michigan Basketball: 3 predictions for Wolverines against Ohio State

Michigan will have the edge on the boards, 3-pointers and turnovers

If Ohio State is going to beat Michigan basketball tonight, it will need to have success in these three areas: rebounding, turnovers and the 3-point shot. If Ohio State can win or keep even in those categories, it will have a chance.

However, that is much easier said than done. When it comes to rebounding, Ohio State ranks outside the top 200 in both offensive and defensive boards and while Michigan isn’t a great rebounding team overall (169th) it’s especially effective on the defensive glass.

Both teams do a solid job of forcing turnovers, but Michigan basketball is much better at taking care of the ball, ranking third in the nation with the fewest turnovers. Ohio State ranks 66th, which is nothing to scoff at, but against the Wolverines top-ranked defense, UM seems to have an edge there too.

At the 3-point line, both teams shoot around 35 percent. Jordan Poole, Brazdeikis, Teske, Livers and Eli Brooks have been the Wolverines best shooters but outside of Teske, who is shooting over 50 percent from three in his last five games, UM has been streaky.

Streaky is a good way to definite Ohio State this season. The Buckeyes were hot against Nebraska and if they are going to upset Michigan, they will need to shoot a solid percentage from deep, as well as drawing close to even both on the boards and in terms of turnovers.