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The Basics
Who: Penn State Nittany Lions (9-5, 0-1 B1G)
When: Saturday, January 2nd, at Noon ET (BTN)
Where: Crisler Center -- Ann Arbor, Mich.
Spread: Vegas: -11 | KenPom: W, 71-60 (86% WP)
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Michigan seeks to improve to 2-0 in the Big Ten on Saturday, hosting Penn State in its conference home opener. This is supposed to be one of the easier Big Ten games on Michigan's schedule with U-M expected to win rather comfortably. However, this could be a potential trap game because the Wolverines could be looking ahead to an upcoming three-game stretch against Purdue, Maryland, and Iowa and Penn State has played some of its best basketball in recent weeks. The Nittany Lions aren't a great offensive team due to their shooting woes from all over the floor, but, behind 7-foot-1 center Jordan Dickerson, they own of the better two-point defenses in the country. If Michigan can't attack him and get him into foul trouble, it could be tough sledding for U-M's offense.
Make sure to read my extensive Penn State preview and prediction here.
What do you think? Will Michigan cruise past PSU? Or will the Lions put up a fight?