The NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament kicks off with a first-round game between the Howard Bison and the Michigan Wolverines. This game will take place at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY. Fans can catch the action on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 7:10 PM ET on CBS.
Howard Bison enters the tournament as a 16 seed. They finished the regular season with a 23-10 record and a 13-3 record in the Mid-Eastern Conference. The Bison will look to make a strong showing against a top-seeded team.
Michigan Wolverines, ranked #3 in the AP poll, holds a 1 seed in the tournament. They ended their regular season with a 31-3 record and a 21-2 record in the Big Ten Conference. In their recent games, they won against Wisconsin and Ohio State but lost to Purdue.
Michigan Preview
The Michigan Wolverines are ranked #3 in the AP poll. They play in the Big Ten Conference. In the 2025 postseason, they reached the Sweet 16. They won against California-San Diego and Texas A&M before losing to Auburn.
In the 2026 regular season, the Wolverines have an overall record of 31-3. Their conference record is 21-2. They have shown strong performance throughout the season. Their offensive stats are impressive, with an average of 86.8 points per game and a field goal percentage of 50.5.
Recent games show mixed results. They lost to Purdue by 8 points, scoring 72. However, they won against Wisconsin and Ohio State. Key players like Aday Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg have contributed significantly in these games.
Player stats highlight the contributions of several players. Yaxel Lendeborg averages 14.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Aday Mara averages 11.6 points and 6.9 rebounds. Elliot Cadeau leads in assists with 187 for the season. These players are crucial for the team’s success.
Howard Preview
The Howard Bison play in the Mid-Eastern Conference. In the 2026 regular season, they had a strong record of 23 wins and 10 losses. Their conference record was 13 wins and 3 losses, showing their strength in conference play.
Offensively, the Bison scored 77.5 points per game, ranking them 161st. They had 66 possessions per game, placing them 286th. Their field goal percentage was 45.8, which ranked 155th. They made 18.6 free throws per game, ranking 28th in that category.
Defensively, the Bison averaged 8.7 steals per game. They also had 3.7 blocks per game. The team committed 19.2 fouls per game. These stats show areas where the team can improve.
Key players include Bryce Harris, who averaged 17.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Cam Gillus contributed with 10.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Cedric Taylor III also played a significant role, averaging 16.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. These players were crucial to the team’s success.
Statistical Breakdown for Michigan vs Howard
Key stats will play a big role in this game. Michigan’s offense is strong, scoring 86.8 points per game. They have a high field goal percentage of 50.5. Howard scores 77.5 points per game, but their defense allows many points. Michigan’s defense might struggle with Howard’s free throw attempts, as Howard ranks 20th in attempts per game.
- Michigan Points Per Game: 86.8 (14th)
- Michigan Field Goal Percentage: 50.5 (8th)
- Howard Points Per Game: 77.5 (161st)
- Howard Free Throw Attempts Per Game: 25.5 (20th)
- Michigan Rebounds Per Game: 40.0 (30th)
- Howard Rebounds Per Game: 36.6 (144th)
- Michigan Assists Per Game: 18.4 (10th)
- Howard Assists Per Game: 16.2 (61st)
Betting Insights
As the Howard Bison prepare to take on the Michigan Wolverines, bettors have several trends to consider. Howard struggled last season, especially against the spread, while Michigan showed strength in their recent games. Here are the top betting trends to keep in mind for this game:
- Howard is 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games.
- Michigan is 3-0 ATS in their last 3 games.
- Howard has a 64.3% rate on the Over for all games last season.
- Michigan is 6-2 ATS as an underdog last season.
- Howard is 0-3 ATS in their last 3 games.
Free Betting Prediction for Michigan vs Howard
Michigan’s strong offense and solid defense make them the favorite in this game. With an average of 86.8 points per game and a high field goal percentage, they are likely to score well against Howard. Howard’s defense might struggle to contain Michigan’s top players like Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara.
Howard’s strength lies in their ability to draw fouls and score from free throws. However, Michigan’s defense is likely prepared for this challenge. Howard’s key players like Bryce Harris and Cedric Taylor III will need to perform at their best to keep the game competitive.
Considering the stats and recent performances, Michigan is expected to win comfortably. The spread of -30.5 reflects this expectation. Howard’s recent struggles against the spread further support a Michigan win by a large margin.
- Our Free Prediction: Michigan -30.5
