NCAA Basketball Matchup: Michigan State vs Michigan
The Michigan Wolverines swept the season series last year over Michigan State. Tom Izzo’s Spartans team was quite disappointing last year, but he seems to have the type of players he wants in his system this year.
7:00 PM EST
College Basketball Gambling Odds from BetOnline
NCAA Basketball Betting Favorite: Michigan State -2
Over/Under: 133
John Beilein has done a tremendous job turning the Michigan program into a winner. Can the Wolverines make it three straight over their in-state rivals or will the Spartans get some revenge?
Draymond Green is a senior leader for Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans. Green is a versatile player who averages 15.8 points and 9.9 rebounds per contest. He is a big man who shoots 41% from beyond the arc, and he is a very good passer as well. Keith Appling has done an impressive job stepping in for Kalin Lucas at the point guard spot. Appling was a star in high school, and he has improved his game a great deal this year. Brandon Wood transferred in from Valparaiso and he has given the team a solid third scorer. Izzo’s teams always rebound the ball very well, and this group is no different. This year’s team is playing much better defense than last year’s squad did. Opponents average just 60.8 points per game against the Spartans.[soliloquy id=”82219″]
Michigan is an impressive 11-0 at home so far this year. Tim Hardaway Jr. is the team’s leading scorer at 15.7 points per contest. Darius Morris shocked the team by going to the NBA after last year, but freshman sensation Trey Burke has been tremendous at the point guard spot. Burke is putting up 14.3 points per game. Burke averages nearly five assists per contest. Evan Smotrycz gives the team a solid forward who can step out and knock down the three on a consistent basis. Smotrycz is hitting nearly 46 percent of his three-point attempts. Zack Novak has played major minutes all four years at Michigan, and he is always the scrappiest player on the floor. Michigan is great at controlling the pace and taking care of the ball. The Wolverines are giving up just 60.7 points per game this year.
It might not be the popular pick, but I like the Wolverines to edge out the Spartans once again.
Prediction: Michigan 66 Michigan State 65
