A Big East-Big Ten clash headlines Wednesday’s men’s college basketball slate. Marquette (2-0) is looking to turn the page after a disappointing 2025-26 campaign. Shaka Smart is returning plenty of talent to the Golden Eagles, a program with NCAA Tournament expectations. As for #20 Michigan (1-1), a loss against #4 UConn last week has dampened some of the excitement in Ann Arbor. Regardless, the Wolverines have more than enough pieces to make another deep March run.
Michigan enters this one as 3.5-point favorites (-115) over Marquette. The total is set at 156.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook. Here’s a college basketball pick, preview and prediction for Wednesday’s game between the Golden Eagles and Wolverines.
Marquette vs. Michigan prediction, preview
Sleep on the Golden Eagles at your own risk. This group is ranked 26th on KenPom, thanks in large part to several experienced pieces. The squad ranks 34th in minutes continuity (32.7%) and 47th in average height (78.4″), two key factors for postseason success. Smart’s defense has allowed a combined 75 points over its first two games, albeit against bottom-feeders Mercyhurst and Detroit Mercy.
It all starts with Nigel James Jr., last season’s Big East Freshman of the Year. Over 32 games, the guard notched 16.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists. He hasn’t gotten off to a great start this year, but it’s likely just a matter of shaking off the rust. Forward Royce Parham is another proven veteran, averaging 14.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game this season. Smart, usually loathe to bring in outside talent, finally dipped into the transfer portal this summer. His big acquisition was Sananda Fru, a 6’11” center from Louisville. So far, so good from the big man (10.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 2.0 BPG).
As for the Wolverines, this is a difficult group to pin down right now. Dusty May is gone, replaced by Mike Boynton Jr. as head coach. Some of Michigan’s most important players last season, such as Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson, and Aday Mara, have departed for the NBA.
With that being said, there’s still a good deal of returning talent for UM. The trio of Elliot Cadeau, Roddy Gayle and Trey McKenney are battle-tested, giving this program stability. Up front, new additions J.P. Estrella and Moustapha Thiam provide rim protection and rebounding. The UConn loss isn’t exactly a demerit for this group; the Huskies might be the nation’s best team. Positive regression should be coming soon for Michigan, especially on offense. The Wolverines are only shooting 22.6% from three-point range over their first two games.
Marquette vs. Michigan pick, best bet
Tonight’s matchup presents Michigan with an opportunity to get back on track against a team that could end the season ranked. Smart will likely prioritize pushing the pace on both ends of the floor. His most successful teams have wreaked havoc on opposing ball handlers, leading to frequent turnovers. With that being said, it’s unlikely the Wolverines and their stellar backcourt get flustered. As modest home favorites, I’ll back the defending champs tonight.
