Michigan State vs Michigan -4.5 O/U 144
This game is big in the Big 10 and it has consequences to the loser in their own eyes. Both teams have 7 big 10 losses and both are trying to make it into the NCAA tournament. Michigan State is a team that has faltered this year in big spots. They are a bit weak at holding on to the ball ranking dead last in turnovers in the conference, and they can sometimes go cold shooting the rock on the road only at 43.6% from the field. Michigan on the other hand hasn’t impressed at all after turning over their guards. This team is a 1 trick pony with Hunter Dickenson and if he gets in foul trouble, this Wolverines team tends to falter. You could see that when vs Illinois when Brandon Johns tried to guard Cockburn and got absolutely destroyed. Not even the refs could save them that game. Now both of these teams are not bet on teams for me but this is a rivalry and Michigan State is too much a dog here. Sparty can at least shoot the three ball pretty well ranking number 2 in conference paly at 38% while Michigan only ranks 13th at 32.5%. Michigan’s defense as a whole has been bad allowing 52.1% effective FG ranking 11th in the conference. The kicker here is that Juwan Howard is still suspended here and that lack of leadership could flow down through the rest of the team and they might make some dumb mistakes. This spread is too high. Take Sparty with the 4.5.
Michigan State +4.5 – 2 stars and sprinkle
Bonus Play: Providence +10 – 1.5 stars and sprinkle – Is Providence in a TERRIBLE spot vs Villanova? Absolutely. They just won the Big East conference on Saturday and are probably still hung over. In saying that, this spread is pretty disrespectful going into the double digits here. Providence almost covered their last game vs Nova minus a last few seconds three pointer by Gillespie to seal the deal. Providence might be the Big Eeast champs now, but why would they not try and avenge this loss here so that can at least feel like the best team in the Big Easy? Teams know the line on the game these days and I think that Providence shows up enough to cover.
