Michigan Basketball vs Buffalo: Predictions, Odds, TV Channel and Live Stream

Michigan basketball will host Buffalo tonight in the official start of the 2021-22 season and here is a look at the odds, how to watch, and a prediction. 

The long wait for Michigan basketball is over Wednesday as the Wolverines will return to a packed Crisler Center for the first time since the 2020 season.

The opponent will be the Buffalo Bulls, a team that is expected to contend in the MAC this year for the conference title with two preseason all-MAC players. The Bulls are also ranked as the No. 91 team in the country according to Kenpom just one spot below Nebraska.

Jeenathan Williams and Josh Mballa are the names you need to know. Both averaged better than 15 points a game last season and Williams is also a solid 3-point shooter at 38 percent while Mballa averaged 10.8 rebounds.

Rebounding will be a concern for the Wolverines Wednesday. It was an issue for Michigan basketball against Wayne State and Buffalo is a very good offensive rebounding team.

The Wolverines shouldn’t have any issues with Hunter Dickinson, Brandon Johns, Moussa Diabate, and others. But it should be an interesting test for Michigan basketball and we take a look at the odds and give out a prediction.

Michigan basketball vs Buffalo Odds and Prediction

With the game tonight, the WynnBet odds for Michigan basketball and Buffalo have the Wolverines as a 15.5-point favorite. The over/under is 150 and the money line is -900 for Michigan and +600 for Buffalo.

While the Bulls are known as a strong rebounding team, they also did a solid job defending the interior last season ranking first in the MAC in 2-point field goal percentage defense.

But their starting center from last season is gone. Buffalo does have two big guys standing at 6-foot-10 and surely that will aid in the defense of Hunter Dickinson but he’s still going to be the biggest issue for Buffalo.

The Bulls probably aren’t used to seeing a big guy as dominant as Hunter, who dominated Big Ten competition most of the time last season, or a big man who can pass as he can.

Michigan basketball can run a lot of offense through him and allow the ball movement to start with that double team. Or if Dickinson is singled he can go to work but you can bet that Caleb Houstan will get lots of open 3-pointers off Dickinson passes this year.

The first game is always tough to predict. I don’t think Michigan will blow the doors off Buffalo. However, I don’t see this one being competitive in the final few minutes either.

Buffalo will keep it close, especially in the first 10-15 minutes but Michigan will build a double-digit lead by the half and maintain it from there. We are predicting the Wolveirnes to win 80-62 as the defense carries the day.

Make your pick now on WynnBet

What channel is the Michigan basketball game on?

Michigan basketball will play Buffalo on the Big Ten Network at 6:30 PM EST/3:30 PM PST.

Michigan basketball vs Buffalo Live Stream

Today’s Michigan basketball game can be live streamed on Fubo TV.