This isn’t a typo: The Michigan Wolverines will take on the UNLV Rebels at 12:30 a.m. ET on Saturday morning/Friday night (depending on where you are).
Michigan fans can’t be happy about this, but such is life when you're playing in the Romain Main Event Las Vegas — and we're sure the night owls will love having some late college basketball betting options.
Michigan is 2-1 on the season after an upset home loss to Seton Hall on Tuesday. It was a bad loss for the Wolverines, although Seton Hall should be one of the better teams in college basketball this season.
Meanwhile, UNLV is 3-0 to start the season but could easily be 0-3 — with single-digit wins over Gardner Webb, California, and North Dakota State, there’s nothing to brag about for the Rebels.
Can Michigan respond from a tough home loss by winning on the road (after a cross-country flight) so late at night? Get our thoughts with our college basketball picks and predictions for Michigan vs. UNLV on Saturday, November 20.
Michigan vs UNLV odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
Michigan opened as a 13.5-point favorite and has been bet up to -14.5 at some outlets at the time of writing. The total, however, hasn’t moved since opening at 135.5. Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until tip-off and be sure to check out the full college basketball odds before placing your bets.
Michigan vs UNLV predictions
Predictions made on 11/19/2021 at 8:05 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
If you're signing up for a new sportsbook for the 2021-22 college basketball season, here are two of the best welcome bonuses available:
USA: Sign up with Caesars and get your first bet matched up to $1,001! Claim Now
Canada: Get a 100%-matched sign-up bonus (up to $400) at BetVictor. Claim Now
Michigan vs UNLV game info
• Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
• Date: Saturday, November 20, 2021
• Tip-off: 12:30 a.m. ET
• TV: ESPN 2
Michigan at UNLV betting preview
Injuries
Michigan: Zeb Jackson G (Questionable).
UNLV: James Hampshire C (Questionable), Victor Iwuakor F (Questionable).
Find our latest NCAA basketball injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Rebels are 0-4 ATS in their last four games overall. Find more NCAA betting trends for Michigan vs. UNLV.
Michigan vs UNLV picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Spread analysis
The Rebels are 3-0 but that could easily be reversed, as they have put together three underwhelming wins and will now have to face one of the best teams in the country in Michigan.
In a way, UNLV lucked out. They’re playing this game just three days after Michigan lost to Seton Hall at home, and with a 12:30 a.m. ET tip-off. Michigan could be tired and sleepy after flying across the country. It's not a guarantee, but UNLV will take every edge it can possibly get against this Big Ten powerhouse.
Michigan has an adjusted offensive efficiency of 113.1 and an adjusted defensive efficiency of 86.3, per KenPom. Both of those numbers are Top 10 in college basketball.
Meanwhile, UNLV has a 40.5-percent effective field goal percentage, thanks to a dismal 21.9 percent efficiency on 3-pointers. The Rebels are led by Bryce Hamilton, who is scoring 17 points per game on 37.5 percent from the field — when your best player is shooting 37.5 percent from the field, it’s not a good sign.
The Wolverines, on the other hand, are shooting 32.2 percent from long range and 54.7 percent from inside. Hunter Dickinson has led Michigan inside with 18.7 ppg and 66.7 percent from the field. He’s also brought down 8.3 rebounds per game and will have a lot to go up against with UNLV’s Royce Hamm Jr., who is averaging nearly 14 boards a game.
UNLV looks terrible offensively, scoring just 61 points per game, while Michigan’s defense will be well prepared and you can expect the Wolverines to get to the line more frequently and win the rebounding battle.
Prediction: Michigan -13.5 (-110)
Over/Under analysis
The lofty spread gives us some pause, but the total we're much more confident in. UNLV has held opponents to just 57.3 points per game and Michigan might be sleepwalking through some (or all?) of this game.
After losing to Seton Hall, Michigan has to fly to Las Vegas and then take on UNLV for a game that tips off in the more awkward side of the a.m. Each team — and player — has their routines, but for Michigan in this game, those routines will definitely be thrown out of whack.
Expect a sloppy offensive game from the Wolverines, while UNLV's offense continues to just struggle in general.
Prediction: Under 135.5 (-110)
Best bet
Michigan has one of the best defenses in the nation. They’ve held opponents to 23.7 percent on 3-point shooting and have also held opponents to a 44.3-percent mark inside the arc. UNLV has been atrocious from downtown — and yet it's still getting a quarter of its points from the 3-point line.
Meanwhile, Michigan has been one of the better offenses this season but will have to go up against a UNLV team that has held opponents to 25.8 percent from long range and 43.5 percent from inside the arc.
This is going to be a defensive game with the Wolverines going to need their coffee for this one.
Pick: Under 135.5 (-110)
Did you know that if you parlayed our Michigan vs. UNLV picks, you could win $26.45 on a $10 bet?
Use our college basketball parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.
