Michigan vs. Northwestern: How to watch, odds, picks, final score predictions from ESPN, KenPom

Two Big Ten foes will square off on Thursday as Michigan travels to Evanston to face Northwestern. Before the game tips off on ESPN2, here are all the predictions and betting odds – including KenPom analytics – that you need to know.

How to watch Michigan vs. Northwestern

Tip-off: 7 p.m. ET

Location: Welsh-Ryan Arena, Evanston, Illinois

Channel: ESPN2

Vegas odds

Northwestern is a 3.5-point favorite over Michigan on Thursday, according to VegasInsider. The over-under is set at 131.5 points.

ESPN BPI prediction

Predicted winner: Northwestern

Win probability (for Northwestern): 78%

ESPN’s College Basketball Power Index (BPI) is a tool that measures team strength and uses that to predict outcomes of future performances. 

KenPom prediction

Predicted final score: Northwestern 72, Michigan 67

Win probability (for Northwestern): 68%

KenPom is another tool that provides advanced analysis across college basketball. Like ESPN, KenPom projects that Northwestern comes away with a victory over Michigan.

More on Michigan vs. Northwestern

These squads faced off against each other just five games ago, as Michigan went on to defeat Northwestern at home 85-78. Wildcats guard Boo Bouie led that game in scoring with 22 points and has led Northwestern ever since with his play. Northwestern has a 3-1 in their four games since their loss to Michigan, and during that stretch, Bouie has averaged 19.5 points per game. He ranks ninth in the Big Ten in points per game, and a big performance out of him could be the difference in the game for the Wildcats.

Michigan on the other hand has gone a disappointing 1-3 since their win over Northwestern, dropping two games by six or fewer points followed by their most recent devastating 22-point loss to Penn State. The Wolverines’ loss to Penn State was the Nittany Lions’ biggest margin of victory in school history in a win over Michigan in a game where star center and leading scorer Hunter Dickinson was held to a season-low six points.

Dickinson will be looking to bounce back in this game, but freshman forward Jett Howard will be looking to build off of his 21-point performance versus Penn State when he takes on Northwestern.