It’s arguably the biggest regular season college basketball matchup between
rivals Michigan State and Michigan since the 1997-98 season as the No. 9
Spartans and No. 19 Wolverines meet as ranked for the first time since that
season. MSU opened as a 2-point road favorite on Bovada’s NCAA basketball
betting odds. In fact, this is only the seventh time ever the two have met as
ranked foes.
Get all your NCAA basketball odds at Bovada’s online
sportsbook.
This game lost a tad of luster when both teams
lost over the weekend. The Wolverines (14-4, 4-2 Big Ten) were routed 75-59 at
Iowa. The Hawkeyes went on a 10-0 run in the second half to build a 53-37 lead
and it was never really close again. It was their first conference home win of
the season.
Freshman point guard Trey Burke led
Michigan with 19 points despite playing only 7 minutes in the first half after
picking up two fouls. He’s been one of the country’s top freshmen so far.
Leading scorer Tim Hardaway Jr. struggled throughout, shooting
2 of 13 from the field and missing all 8 of 3-point attempts.
The Big
Ten-co-leading Spartans (15-3, 4-1) were surprised 81-74 at Northwestern, which
ended MSU’s 15-game winning streak. Northwestern shot 54 percent in the second
half, finishing right at 50 against a team that was allowing just 37 percent all
season. Teams had been averaging just 59.6 points against the Spartans through
the first 17 games. Keith Appling led the Spartans with 17
points.
Keep an eye on the rebounding margin tonight. MSU is No. 9 in
the nation in rebounds per game, while the smallish Wolverines are one of the
nation’s worst in that category. Michigan lives or dies by the 3-point shot. The
Spartans have won 18 of the past 23 meetings but dropped both last season and
have covered just one of the past five in this series. MSU is 4-1 in true road
games this year and two of those wins were over ranked foes Wisconsin and
Gonzaga.
It's a short season. Play Harder. Bet on college
basketball now at Bovada.
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