Michigan vs. TCU Prediction & Odds: College Basketball Betting Preview for Nov. 14

No. 6 Michigan is one of four AP top-10 teams in action on a loaded Friday college basketball slate, and my Michigan vs. TCU prediction breaks down if the Wolverines are ready to survive their first true road test. The game, from Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, will start at 9 p.m. ET (ESPN2).

Michigan is an 8.5-point betting favorite, and I am taking advantage of an under-inflated line given its narrow overtime victory earlier this week.

✅ Michigan vs. TCU prediction & expert picks

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📊 Michigan vs. TCU odds

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🏀 Michigan vs. TCU preview & score prediction

Michigan failed to cover as a 13.5-point favorite against Wake Forest on Tuesday, eking out a one-point overtime victory. But that will not stop me from backing the Wolverines tonight, as the Demon Deacons beat Michigan on their home floor last season.

Michigan is getting healthier

It's scary to think the Wolverines dropped 121 points on Oakland in their season opener, yet weren't fully healthy at the time. The country’s top transfer, Yaxel Lendeborg, was limited to just 22 minutes in that game, but ramped up to 33 minutes against Wake Forest as head coach Dusty May hinted that he should have been close to 100% entering that game.

Michigan also got sophomore guard L.J. Cason back from a shoulder injury after missing the season opener. 

Cason averaged 4.3 points in 12 minutes per game as a freshman last season. But he scored 30 points and totaled a 6-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio in the team's last four Big Ten and NCAA Tournament games last season. He provides solid depth to starting point guard Elliot Cadeau. 

Meanwhile, New Orleans became just the second non-conference team to win at Schollmaier Arena since 2022, beating TCU as 22.5-point underdogs in the season opener. That gives me more confidence to back the Wolverines, who are road-tested with an exhibition win in a tough Madison Square Garden environment against St. John’s.

The best number and price for Michigan backers is at FanDuel, the only one of our best sports betting sites where one can find a spread of -8.5 at less than -115 juice (53.49% implied odds). If Michigan covers, my $10 winning wager would net $8.70 in profits.

Score prediction: Michigan 85, TCU 74

🆚 Michigan vs. TCU matchup to watch

Yaxel Lendeborg vs. TCU frontcourt

TCU has been beatable at the rim this season, allowing opponents to score 54.4% of its points from inside the arc. That is a bottom-80 rate among DI schools despite playing three inferior opponents (New Orleans, Saint Francis, and Lamar).

Michigan is coming off a game where it shot just 4-for-25 (16%) from 3-point range, so Dusty May will likely preach attacking the rim. I also expect positive regression from Michigan at the free throw line, after making just 18 of its first 36 attempts against TCU.

There are no player props available as of this writing, but I expect this data to result in Michigan cashing the Over on its team total. 

If you're looking for player props, look no further than my college basketball best bets today.

Best prop bet: Michigan team total Over 83.5 (-110 via FanDuel)

📺 How to watch Michigan vs. TCU

• Date: Friday, Nov. 14
• Tipoff: 9 p.m. ET
• Location: Schollmaier Arena (Fort Worth, Texas)
• TV: ESPN2