Michigan vs. Michigan St. Pick
With the Big Ten title on the line, who will come out on top when No. 9 Michigan State plays host to No. 7 Michigan tonight at 8PM ET?
649 Michigan vs. 650 Michigan State
Saturday, March 9, 2019
8PM ET – Breslin Center
TV: ESPN
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Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, Michigan State is the favorite in this game, as the Spartans are getting odds of -3.5 points against Michigan. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 135.5 points. The public betting currently has 64 percent going on Michigan as the road underdog. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our College Basketball Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Wolverines seek revenge
Michigan has won its last two since suffering a 77-70 loss at home to Michigan State on Feb. 24. The Wolverines covered in both wins and now find themselves in a winner-wins-a-conference-title game with the Spartans. Michigan is 26-4 on the season, 15-4 in the Big Ten, 7-3 on the road, 17-13 against the spread and 17-12 with the under.
The Wolverines have one of the top defenses in the nation, as Michigan is giving up just 58.3 points per game this season while holding opponents to 39.9 percent shooting. Offensively, Michigan is putting up 70.7 points per game while shooting 45.1 percent as a team. Ignas Brazdeikis is leading Michigan this season with 14.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Jordan Poole is adding 12.9 points per game. Guard Charles Matthews is questionable tonight with an ankle injury. He averages 12.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
Spartans a little beat up
Michigan State is coming off a 91-76 win at home over Nebraska to bounce back from a 63-62 loss at Indiana last weekend. The Spartans are now 24-6 on the season, 15-4 in the Big Ten, 14-1 at home, 21-9 against the spread and 17-12-1 with the under.
MSU has put up good numbers on offense and defense this season. The offense averages 79.9 points per game while shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from the arc. Defensively, the Spartans are giving up 66 points per game while holding opponents to just 37.5 percent shooting. Nick Ward is out for tonight’s game with a hand injury while Kyle Ahrens is questionable with a back injury. Cassius Winston is leading the team with 18.8 points and 7.6 assists per game while Ward was averaging 15.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per contest.
College Basketball Betting Trends
Michigan
Michigan is 19-7 against the spread in its last 26 road games and 9-4 ATS in its last 13 games following a win.
Michigan State
The Spartans are 17-4 against the spread in their last 21 games against a winning team and 14-5 ATS in their last 19 Big Ten games.
Prediction:
Surprisingly, Michigan State has been a team that has played very well against the good teams and had some really head-scratching losses against bad ones like Illinois and Indiana. The Spartans are a tough team at home and they are playing their rival for the Big Ten title in primetime. It’s going to be a tough environment for Michigan to get a win at. I am going to go with the Spartans, who already were able to win in Ann Arbor a few weeks ago with this limited roster.
College Basketball Prediction: Michigan State -3.5