Spartans vs. Nittany Lions Prediction
The sixth-ranked Michigan State Spartans are 5-0 in Big Ten Conference play and will try to make it six straight today when they play at the Penn State Nittany Lions. Is favored Michigan State going to win and cover as the road favorites?
Game Snapshot
835 Michigan State Spartans at 836 Penn State Nittany Lions
Saturday, January 13, 2019
Bryce Jordan Center at 4:30PM ET
TV: CBS
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Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, the Spartans are a 7.5-point favorite on the spread line. The total is set at 141.5 points. As of Sunday morning, 81 percent of public bets are pouring in on visiting Michigan State. Check out our College Basketball Public Betting Page for the latest updates.
Spartans win ninth straight
Michigan State shook off a poor start Tuesday night at home as it topped Purdue by a count of 77-59 to improve to 14-2 overall and 5-0 in Big Ten play. The Spartans led 39-26 at halftime despite the shaky start and continued to roll from there. Cassius Winston paced MSU with 23 points on 7-of-14 shooting including 4-of-7 on 3-point attempts plus 5-of-7 at the free throw line. He also accounted for six rebounds and five assists. Nick Ward contributed 16 points and nine boards. Xavier Tillman added 11 points and five boards off the bench. Michigan State shot 26-of-58 from the floor, 9-of-27 on 3-point tries and 16-of-19 at the free throw line.
Nittany Lions drop to 0-5 in Big Ten
Penn State fell to 7-9 overall and 0-5 in Big Ten action with a 70-64 defeat at Nebraska Thursday night. The Nittany Lions were outscored 37-33 in the second half as the hosts carved out the win. Penn State shot 25-of-69 from the field 7-of-24 on 3-point attempts and 7-of-12 at the charity stripe. Josh Reaves paced PSU with 20 points on 8-of-17 shooting including 4-of-7 on 3-pointers. He also had three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Lamar Stevens talled 13 points, nine boards and three dimes. Myles Dread registered 13 points plus six caroms and two assists. Mike Watkins added 12 points, 14 rebounds and three blocked shots.
College Basketball Betting Trends
Michigan State
The Spartans are 5-0 ATS in their last five games overall. Michigan State is 4-1 ATS in its last five road games.
Penn State
The home team is 9-4 ATS in the last 13 meetings. The Nittany Lions are 1-4 in their last five games versus the Big Ten.
Prediction:
Since falling in overtime at Louisville, the Spartans have won their last three road games and all nine total games they have played. That includes an 86-77 victory their last road game last Saturday at a better Ohio State squad than the Penn State team they will see today. The Nittany Lions are pretty sound defensively, but only rank 147th nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency. With Michigan State being elite offensively and also strong on the defensive end, I believe the sixth-ranked visitors will pull away and win by enough to cover this spread.
NCAA DAILY PREDICTION: MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS -7.5