The initial First Four game has concluded with Howard defeating UMBC 86-83 on Tuesday, March 17. Howard moves onto the First Round against No. 1 Michigan. The Wolverines are 31.5-point favorites, while the Bison are +5000 on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The total is set at 152.5 points.
Michigan vs. Howard opening odds
Michigan’s season ended on a rocky note, nearly losing to Wisconsin in the Big Ten semifinals before falling to Purdue in the championship. Despite this, the Wolverines still earned a No. 1 seed in March Madness and will play Howard in the First Round. The Wolverines only have three losses: unranked Wisconsin, No. 3 Duke and No. 18 Purdue. Their resume is one of the best in the country and will be a tough out in March Madness.
Howard is the ultimate underdog, having won its first-ever NCAA Tournament game in the First Four against UMBC. That said, this is the Bison’s third NCAA Tournament appearance in the past four years (2023, 2024, 2026). This is an experienced group that will look to build on its momentum. Howard enters this matchup on a nine-game win streak.
