Florida State vs. Michigan betting predictions, NCAA Elite 8

Florida State Seminoles (23-11 SU 18-13-1 ATS) vs. Michigan Wolverines (31-7 SU 24-12-1 ATS)

DATE: 8:49 PM ET Saturday March 25 on TBS

LINE: OFF

Ninth seed Florida State has beaten three higher seeds in advancing to the NCAA Elite 8 including taking out the #1 seed in Xavier and the 4th seed in Gonzaga in their last game. While the team is led by their offense that ranks 34th in the nation in ppg their defense, which only ranks 210th in points allowed, has been the main reason the Seminoles are still alive. FSU has won two of their three games in the Big Dance by double digits.

It is no surprise that Michigan is in the Elite 8 after their late season surge and they blew out Texas A&M by 27 points in their last game. Their defense ranks 8th in the nation in points allowed and while only ranking 172nd in the nation averaging 73.8 ppg they put up 99 points in their last game. The last time the Wolverines faced off with the Seminoles it was in the 2013 season.

In their games held at a neutral site this season Florida State is 6-2 and Michigan is 10-1.

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The odds

Key betting trends – Seminoles v Wolverines

Florida State
Florida State is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games.
Florida State is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 non-conference games.
Florida State has an Under record of 5-2 in their last 7 games.

Florida State pulled off another upset in their last game beating Gonzaga 75-60 mainly because of their defense. They shot a respectable 46.6% from the floor and held a high scoring Bulldogs team to only 33.9% shooting. The Seminoles got off to a great start outscoring Gonzaga by nine points in the first half. FSU used a team effort to beat the Bulldogs, as Terance Mann was the only player for the squad to go for double figures with 18 points and five other players had at least seven points. Mann is one of three players averaging between 12-13 ppg on the season as the team’s leading scorers with the other two of Phil Cofer and Braian Angola, who combined for only 16 points in the win over Gonzaga.

Michigan
Michigan is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 non-conference games.
Michigan is 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games after an ATS win.
Michigan has an Over record of 6-2-2 in their last 10 games.

Michigan roughed up Texas A&M in their last game beating them 99-72. The Wolverines took over the game early outscoring the Aggies by 24 points in the first half and for the game they shot a scorching 61.9% from the floor and 58-3% from beyond the 3-pt arc and they forced 14 turnovers with A&M shooting 47.8% overall. Three Michigan starters went for at least 18 points with Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman and Moritz Wagner combining for 45 points. These are two of the leading scorers on the season and leading scorer Wagner (14.2 ppg) had only totaled 17 points in the first two tournament games before going for 21 in the win over Texas A&M.

Prediction: Florida State v Michigan

Florida State’s run to the Elite 8 has been impressive, but their run ends in this game. Michigan is red-hot and they have won 12 in a row and after this game it will be lucky 13. The Wolverines will not just win, but cover the spread as well at Bovada and advance to the Final 4.