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Posted March 20 at 8:00 PM EST

NCAA Tournament - West Regional - Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA

9:20 PM EST. Upsets are the market flavor this event or so it seems, but there can be value in some of these significant favorites and "Big Blue" fits that bill. The Wolverines have been criticized for their collapse late in the Big 10 championship game, making it a clean 3-0 sweep for the rival Spartans this season and although the result was disappointing, that defeat will likely not phase the "Maize and Blue”, who have their eye on a much bigger prize. Michigan coach John Beilein said as much, "It's a great feather in their cap to get that far, but we like winning championships." Michigan made it to the title game last season before falling to Villanova and we doubt this moment will be too big for the Wolverines, which handled its business in this very spot last season against these same Grizzlies after a 61-47 win and cover as a 10-point favorite.

This second straight trip to the NCAAs looked very much in doubt when Montana was down double digits to Eastern Washington in the Big Sky final, but the Grizz roared back and managed to pick up the win and this automatic birth. That near lopsided loss to the Eagles is troubling enough, but when you look at how Montana has faired when it takes a step up in competition this season, the results aren't pretty. Sure, the Grizzlies have 26 wins, but many of them came against pushovers like Incarnate Word, Montana Tech and Idaho. KenPom ranked Montana's strength of schedule this season at 269, while the Wolverines were 29. When the Grizzlies stepped out of their comfort zone and played a pair of notable schools in Arizona, and Creighton (neither of which made the Field of 68), they got smashed 61-42 by the Wildcats and 98-72 by the Bluejays. The Wolverines side is the best team the Grizzlies have stood across the court from this season and it's not even close. There will be a Cinderella story or two in this tournament, but you're going to have to look elsewhere because the Grizz are not it.

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