Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Michigan Wolverines Odds, March Madness Betting Pick

The seventh-seeded Michigan Wolverines (24-11) will try to prove they deserved a better seed when they take on the 10th-seeded Oklahoma State Cowboys (20-12) on Friday as small favorites. The Wolverines won the Big Ten tournament championship in an upset over the Wisconsin Badgers, and the conference does not have a seed higher than fourth in the Big Dance field.

Point spread: The Wolverines opened as three-point favorites; the total is at 157, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. Line updates and matchup report.

March Madness betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 78.7-66.7 Wolverines (College basketball picks on every game) (Download the NCAA tournament bracket)

Why Oklahoma State can cover the spread

Some may feel that Oklahoma State was a questionable selection to make the NCAA tournament, but this is a team that won 10 of 11 at one point during conference play before losing three in a row.

The Cowboys are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games as underdogs, and they pulled off four straight-up upsets during their recent positive run, winning at Texas Tech, West Virginia, TCU and Kansas State. Two of those teams are in the NCAA tournament, and the ability to win away from home is certainly important here.

Why Michigan can cover the spread

Michigan will likely be playing with a huge chip on its shoulder in Indianapolis, looking to show that the Big Ten is better than the Big 12. Conference pride is indeed on the line, and every year we see teams from the same league post an outstanding mark in the first round.

The Wolverines, a sleeper team for March Madness, according to the analysis at PredictionMachine.com, are also 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 games versus Big 12 opponents, and their title run in the Big Ten tournament is a credit to head coach John Beilein.

Smart betting pick

Michigan is the hotter team heading into the tournament, winning five straight both SU and ATS. In fact, the Wolverines have also lost just twice in their last 12 games, going 9-3 ATS during that stretch.

While Oklahoma State had some nice moments during the regular season under first-year head coach Brad Underwood, the experience of Beilein will be the difference for Michigan as his team wins and covers. The Cowboys have lost seven consecutive games in March (1-6 ATS) and will fall again in this spot.

March Madness betting trends

The total has gone over in five of Michigan's last six games as a favorite.

Michigan is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games against the Big 12.

Oklahoma State is 7-1 ATS in its last eight games as an underdog.

All college basketball lines and betting trends courtesy of Bleacher Report’s official odds partner, OddsShark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line-movement updates and the OddsShark YouTube page for picks and analysis, or download the free odds tracker app.