Bodog Beat

The Clemson Tigers take on the Michigan Wolverines. (AP Images)

You have to wonder about the Clemson Tigers’ psyche heading into the NCAA tournament. The Tigers started 16-0 but struggled down the stretch. In last year’s NCAA tournament, the fifth-seeded Tigers failed to hold an 18-point lead in an opening-round loss to 12th-seeded Villanova.

On Thursday the 5-point favored Tigers will be trying to avoid another collapse when they open up against the Michigan Wolverines.

Michigan proved in the non-conference schedule it could hang with anyone by beating Duke and UCLA. The Wolverines, though, didn’t match those heights in the conference schedule, going only 9-9.

The Wolverines are making their first tournament appearance since 1998 and they will rely heavily on their 3-point shooting. To pull off the upset Michigan must get hot from the outside to have any shot.

Maybe playing on Thursday will be the key for Michigan. The Wolverines are 6-0 ATS in their last six Thursday games.

Get all your NCAA tournament odds in the Bodog Sportsbook.