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Michigan Basketball vs Penn State: Odds, prediction and how to watch

By Chris Peterson

Dec 21, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Juwan Howard points to his defense during the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Jumpman Classic at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Juwan Howard points to his defense during the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Jumpman Classic at the Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports /
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Looking ahead to Michigan basketball and Penn State on Sunday here is how to watch, the odds, and a prediction for the Wolverines. 

The Michigan basketball team is 11-9 on the season and the Wolverines are in desperate need of a quadrant-1 victory and Sunday at Penn State would qualify.

Michigan just defeated Penn State a couple of weeks ago in Ann Arbor in a close game. Jalen Pickett played well, as he basically always does, but the Nittany Lions didn’t shoot well from beyond the arc which is the defining stat for them.

Penn State is 9-0 on the season when it shoots better than 40 percent from 3-point range according to UMHoops.com, so that’s a key thing to watch. Penn State also isn’t good at defending the post. It doubled a lot in the first matchup against Michigan basketball and Hunter Dickinson. He scored 17 points on 10-shot attempts but used his advantage to open looks.

We don’t have word on whether or not Jett Howard will play. He was a game-time decision against Purdue but didn’t go. As I laid out recently, Michigan basketball needs to get hot down the stretch, and with six road games left, this is one of the most winnable.

Michigan needs to win three games on the road to make the tournament and beating Penn State on Sunday would be a great start. He’s a look at the odds, a prediction, and how to watch.

Michigan basketball vs Penn State odds

Penn State is a 3.5-point favorite according to FanDuel and the over/under is 139.5 points. The money line is +138 for the Wolverines and -166 for Penn State.

Michigan basketball vs Penn State prediction

The Wolverines have Hunter Dickinson and Penn State has Jalen Pickett. Both teams are going to struggle to stop the other team’s top scorer.

Pickett does really well in the post and in the ball-screen game. Dickinson is one of the best players in the post in the country and Penn State doesn’t have anybody that can stop him.

It wouldn’t be surprising if Penn State threw some zone at Michigan. It worked out really well for Maryland but the biggest key is going to Michigan’s 3-point defense and being able to knock down shots — whether it’s open looks against the zone or from defenders doubling Dickinson.

Penn State is 52nd in the Kenpom rankings and Michigan is 58th. I don’t know why I still believe in this team, but I do. If Jett Howard is able to play, I’ve got the Wolverines outright. Without him, I still think they cover the spread and that it will be a close game either way.

If this team is going to make the tournament, it needs a win. Do or die.

Michigan 69, Penn State 66

Michigan basketball vs Penn State how to watch

Tip-off time: 12 PM EST

TV: Big Ten Network

Stream: Fubo TV

Listen: mgoblue.com 

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