Opening Line: Michigan Favored Over No. 18 Indiana in National TV Showdown in Ann Arbor
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The lengthy storyline about Indiana's struggles on the road the past couple of years has apparently followed them to Michigan. The Hoosiers have a big game with the Wolverines on ESPN on Saturday, and oddsmakers don't expect it to go well.
Michigan is favored by 2.5 points according to the SISportsbook.com gambling website. The over/under is 144. Indiana last lost in last four games in Ann Arbor, not winning here since Feb. 2, 2016.
To be honest, it hasn't been much better in Bloomington either against Michigan. The Wolverines are 4-0 there too since 2015, and when Indiana beat them in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament last March, it snapped a nine-game overall losing streak to Michigan.
Indiana (17-7 overall and 8-5 in the Big Ten) has a lot to prove on the road Saturday night, because they have not been good in these situations. They have won and covered in just one Big Ten road game all year — Jan. 19 at Illinois — and are 3-5 on the road and 2-6 vs. the spread. The November win at Xavier was the only other win and cover.
Most recently, they lost by double-digits at Maryland, and needed a last-minute rally to beat a horrible undermanned Minnesota team. So as good as Indiana has been at home, they need one of those step-up games on the road against a Michigan team (!4-10, 8-5 in Big Ten) that's also in this four-way tie for second place with Indiana, Rutgers and Northwestern.
The game starts at 6 p.m. ET and will be televised on ESPN. Here's all the information on how to watch, plus a great preview of the game by HoosiersNow.com reporter Jack Ankony. CLICK HERE
Here is a thorough breakdown on what Indiana has done all season, both straight up and against the spread:
Indiana by the numbers
- Indiana overall record: 17-7
- Indiana overall vs. spread: 13-11
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- Indiana home record: 13-1
- Indiana home vs. spread: 10-4
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- Indiana road record: 3-5
- Indiana road vs spread: 2-6
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- Indiana neutral court record: 1-1
- Indiana neutral court vs. spread: 1-1
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- Indiana record as favorite: 16-2
- Indiana vs. spread as favorite: 12-6
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- Indiana record as underdog: 1-5
- Indiana vs. spread as underdog: 1-5
Indiana vs. the spread
Here's what Indiana has done this season, straight up and against the spread::
- Nov. 7 — Beat Morehead State 88-53 as a 24.5-point favorite (won)
- Nov. 10 — Beat Bethune-Cookman 101-49 as a 32.5-point favorite (won)
- Nov. 18 — Won at Xavier 81-79 as a 1.5-point favorite (won)
- Nov. 20 — Beat Miami of Ohio 86-56 as a 27.5-point favorite in Indianapolis (won)
- Nov. 23 — Beat Little Rock 86-67 as a 29..5-point favorite (lost)
- Nov. 25 — Beat Jackson State 90-51 as a 28.5-point favorite (won)
- Nov. 30 — Beat No. 18 North Carolina 77-65 as a 4.5-point favorite (won)
- Dec. 3 — Lost at Rutgers 63-48 as a 3-point favorite (lost)
- Dec. 7 — Beat Nebraska 81-55 as a 12.5-point favorite (won)
- Dec. 10 — Lost to No. 10 Arizona 89-75 in Las Vegas as a 1.5-point underdog (lost)
- Dec. 17 — Lost at No. 8 Kansas 84-62 as a 5.5-point underdog (lost)
- Dec. 20 — Beat Elon 96-72 as a 28.5-point favorite (lost)
- Dec. 23 — Beat Kennesaw State 69-55 as a 17.5-point favorite (lost)
- Jan. 5 — Lost at Iowa 91-89 as a 1.5-point underdog (lost)
- Jan. 8 — Lost to Northwestern 84-83 as a 7.5-point favorite (lost)
- Jan. 11 — Lost at Penn State 85-66 as a 2.5-point underdog (lost)
- Jan. 14 — Beat No. 18 Wisconsin 63-45 as a 4-point favorite (won)
- Jan. 19 — Won at Illinois 80-65 as a 6.5-point underdog (won)
- Jan. 22 — Beat Michigan State 82-63 as a 4.5-point favorite (won)
- Jan. 25 — Won at Minnesota 61-57 as an 11.5-point favorite (lost)
- Jan. 28 — Beat Ohio State 86-70 as a 4.5-point favorite (won)
- Jan. 31 — Lost at Maryland 66-55 as a 2.5-point underdogs (lost)
- Feb. 4 — Beat No. 1 Purdue 79-74 as a 1-point favorite (won)
- Feb. 7 — Beat No. 24 Rutgers 66-60 as a 4.5-point favorite (won)
Michigan vs. the spread
Michigan is 14-10 on the season and 8-5 in the Big Ten. The Wolverines have been gone 13-11 against the spread this season and have won and covered in three straight games.
In true Big Ten home games, they are 6-1 overall and 4-3 vs. the spread, with the only loss coming against No. 1 Purdue. Here's what Michigan has done this season, straight up and against the spread:
- Nov. 7 — Beat Purdue Fort Wayne 75-56 as a 15.5-point favorite (won)
- Nov. 11 —Beat Eastern Michigan 88-83 in Detroit as an 17.5-point favorite (lost)
- No. 16 — Beat Pittsburgh 91-60 in Brooklyn, N,Y. as an 8.5-point favorite (won)
- Nov. 17 — Lost to Arizona State 82-67 in Brooklyn, N,Y. as a 7.5-point favorite (lost)
- Nov. 20 — Beat Ohio 70-66 in overtime as a 14.5-point favorite (lost)
- Nov. 23 — Beat Jackson State 78-68 as a 22.5-point favorite (lost)
- Nov. 29 — Lost to Virginia 70-68 in ACC/Big Ten Challenge as 4.5-point underdog (won)
- Dec. 4 — Lost to No. 19 Kentucky 73-69 in London as an 8.5-point underdog (won)
- Dec. 8 — Won at Minnesota 90-75 as a 4.5-point favorite (won)
- Dec. 17 — Beat Lipscomb 83-75 as an 14.5-point favorite (lost)
- Dec. 21 – Lost to North Carolina 80-76 in Charlotte as a 5.5-point underdog (won)
- Dec. 29 — Lost to Central Michigan 63-61 as an 21.5-point favorite (lost)
- Jan. 1 — Beat Maryland 81-46 as a 1-point favorite (won)
- Jan. 4 — Beat Penn State 79-69 as an 4.5-point favorite (won)
- Jan. 7 — Lost at Michigan State 59-53 as a 3.5-point underdog (won)
- Jan. 12 — Lost at Iowa 93-84 in overtime as an 4.5-point underdog (lost)
- Jan. 15 – Beat Northwestern 85-78 as a 3.5-point favorite (won)
- Jan. 19 — Lost at Maryland 64-58 as an 3.5-point underdog (lost)
- Jan. 22— Beat Minnesota 60-56 as a 12.5-point underdog (lost)
- Jan. 26 – Lost to No. 1 Purdue 75-70 as a 4.5-point underdog (lost)
- Jan. 29 — Lost at Penn State 83-61 as an 4.5-point underdog (lost)
- Feb. 2 — Won at Northwestern 68-51 as a 3.5-point underdog (won)
- Feb. 5— Beat Ohio State 77-69 as a 2.5-point favorite (won)
- Feb. 8 — Beat Nebraska 93-72 as a 11.5-point favorite (won)
Related stories on Indiana basketball
- HOW TO WATCH: Indiana and Michigan are fighting for position in the Big Ten standings, and their game in Ann Arbor gets the national attention on ESPN. Here's how to watch — Robbie Hummel is on the call — plus a great breakdown of the game. CLICK HERE
- DICKINSON PREVIEWS INDIANA: It's a showdown of big men Saturday when Indiana's Trayce Jackson-Davis and Michigan's Hunter Dickinson get together. ''I enjoy playing really great players because it usually brings the best out of me,'' the Michigan center said. Here are his thoughts on the game. CLICK HERE
- MEET THE OPPONENT: Michigan is currently on the outside of the NCAA Tournament picture despite its 8-5 Big Ten record, but the Wolverines have played some of their best basketball in recent games thanks to improved 3-point shooting. Here's a deep dive into what's going on with Michigan. CLICK HERE
- HOOSIER ROUNDTABLE PODCAST: We're back with another terrific episode of the ''Hoosier Roundtable'' podcast, and we've got twice the entertainment this week with Indiana guard Trey Galloway joining the show along with Xavier Johnson. The two fashion icons talk outfits, injury updates and all the good things going on with this Indiana basketball team right now. CLICK HERE
- XAVIER JOHNSON INJURY UPDATE: Injured Indiana point guard Xavier Johnson said his surgically repaired foot is feeling much better, and he told HoosiersNow.com publisher Tom Brew that he still plans on being back on the floor at some point in the regular season. CLICK HERE
- IU LEARNING TO FINISH GAMES: Indiana let a handful of games slip away in the final minutes last season, but the Hoosiers are learning to finish games strong in year two under coach Mike Woodson. CLICK HERE
