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Update: Sunday, March 28 12 p.m. Here are the updated bet splits from DraftKings Sportsbook for FSU vs. Michigan:
FSU: +2 (34% of handle, 36% of bets)
Michigan: -2 (66% of handle, 64% of bets)
No. 4 seed Florida State Seminoles will be trying to take down the No. 1 seed Michigan Wolverines when the two teams face off on Sunday in the Sweet 16. Both teams have not played in the regional semifinals since 2019.
The game will take place at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Sunday, March 28 at 5:00 p.m., and will be broadcast on CBS.
No. 4 Florida State: 18-6 (11-4 ACC)
First Round: Defeated No. 13 UNC-Greensboro 64-54
Second Round: Defeated No. 5 Colorado 71-53
KenPom rating: 17 Overall, 14 Offense, 40 Defense
Leading scorer: M.J. Walker (12.5 ppg)
Key stat: The Seminoles are shooting 38.3% from three-point range, good for 17th in Division I
After falling short in the ACC Tournament, the No. 4 seed Florida State Seminoles opened up March Madness with a 64-54 win over No. 13 UNC-Greensboro. They followed up that win with another victory in the second round over the No. 5 seed Colorado Buffaloes. FSU will be making their third-straight appearance in the Sweet 16.
The Seminoles are just like the Michigan Wolverines in that they are both fundamentally sound teams. Florida State may have days where they don’t shoot the ball well, but they always come to play on defense, which is a testament to head coach Leonard Hamilton.
Two of FSU’s best players are senior guard M.J. Walker and junior forward Raiquan Gray. Walker is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 12.5 points per game. He also shoots 43.8% from the field and 43.6% from three-point range. Meanwhile, Gray is averaging 12.2 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds per game. Both Walker and Gray will need to play huge if they want to pull the upset on Michigan.
No. 1 Michigan: 22-4 (14-3 Big Ten)
First Round: Defeated No. 16 Texas Southern 82-66
Second Round: Defeated No. 8 LSU 86-78
KenPom rating: 3 Overall, 8 Offense, 9 Defense
Leading scorer: Hunter Dickinson (14.3 ppg)
Key stat: The Wolverines are averaging 28.4 defensive rebounds per game, good for 18th in Division I.
The No. 1 seed Wolverines began their journey towards the Final Four with a convincing 82-66 win over the No. 16 seed Texas Southern Tigers in the first round. On Monday night, they defeated the No. 8 seed LSU Tigers to advance to the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in five seasons.
The Juwan Howard-led Wolverines have been one of the better teams in college basketball this season. They can defend at a high level and are efficient on the offensive end. Michigan is led by center Hunter Dickinson and guard Isaiah Livers. Livers is out with a stress fracture, while Dickinson has been a dominant presence in the low post. Dickson leads the team with 14.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
March Madness Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook
Spread: Michigan -3
Total: 145.5
Moneyline: Florida State +135, Michigan -159
The Pick
Against The Spread Pick: Michigan -3
Point total pick: Under 145.5
Pick to Win: Michigan
Unlike the Wolverines’ second round matchup against the LSU Tigers, their Sweet 16 matchup against the Florida State Seminoles will not be high scoring. Both teams can buckle down on defense and also shoot the ball well from three-point range.
Michigan will be looking to clean up from their turnovers against LSU and hope to establish Dickinson in the paint more. In regards to FSU, they must get M.J. Walker going, who only had seven points against the Buffs. The Seminoles cannot have Mike Smith or Franz Wagner outplay Walker, or it will be a long night.
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