Michigan State vs Louisville: Preview, predictions, betting odds and more
Wednesday’s Michigan State vs Louisville game is a much-anticipated rematch of last year’s Elite Eight.
Rick Pitino’s Louisville Cardinals will head to East Lansing as the No. 24 team in the country, looking to face off against the No. 3 Michigan State Spartans. As you probably know by now, this is a rematch of last year’s Elite Eight game in which the Spartans came out on top of in overtime.
Both teams have changed quite a bit as it seems like the Cardinals might not be as deep and the Spartans may be even more dangerous. This ACC/Big Ten Challenge contest is one of the premier matchups and the Spartans will look to bring it home for the good guys’ conference.
Details for Wednesday’s Michigan State vs Louisville game are below:
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 2
Start Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
Location: East Lansing, MI
Stadium: Breslin Center
TV Info: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: For Michigan State radio affiliates, click here. For Louisville radio affiliates, click here.
Ticket info: For Michigan State ticket info, click here.
Three Key Players
Nov 27, 2015; Fullerton, CA, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Deyonta Davis (23) dunks as Boise State Broncos forward Nick Duncan (13) looks on during the second half at Titan Gym. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
- Denzel Valentine needs to take over this game like he has on multiple occasions this year. For the second straight game, he will be facing off against another scoring guard as Damion Lee will give the Spartans some trouble. Valentine needs to be more consistent shooting the ball in this one — more so than he was against Providence.
- Chinanu Onuaku will play a key role for the Louisville Cardinals as he’s the team’s leading rebounder and he averages nearly 10 points per game. Michigan State has had trouble guarding the post all season long and a guy who averages close to a double-double might pose a problem.
- Deyonta Davis could be the guy who has to face Onuaku if Matt Costello gets into foul trouble. The true freshman will face a tough test and could prove himself by asserting his shot-blocking prowess against the Cardinals and protecting the paint. His post moves on offensive will also be on high alert.
Three Storylines to Follow
Nov 27, 2015; Fullerton , CA, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) brings the ball up court against the Boise State Broncos during the first half at Titan Gym. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
- Denzel on the big stage. Last time Denzel Valentine was playing in front of a national audience, the senior guard picked up his first career triple-double in a win over No. 4 Kansas. With this contest against a perennial power like Louisville, he will likely try to rise to the occasion yet again. Will he put together another career day?
- Bryn Forbes’ consistency. After a couple of rough games in the Wooden Legacy for Bryn Forbes, he finished the tournament with a solid 18-point game against Providence, but he disappeared in the second half. The Spartans will need him to be a consistent 15-point scorer for them to succeed. Will he follow up his best game with another solid contest?
- Rebounding battle. Louisville is one of those rare teams that averages more rebounds per game than Michigan State. The Spartans pick up about 44 per game while the Cardinals have recorded about 46 per contest. Although Louisville has played easier opponents thus far, will they continue to out-rebound teams or will the Spartans buck that trend?
Betting Odds
Point Spread: Michigan State -5.5
Prediction
With the game being played in the Breslin Center, it’s tough for any non-conference opponent to come in there and steal a win — especially a ranked one. Michigan State fans love the idea of playing ranked non-conference foes and jump at the opportunity to see the Spartans face off against one at home.
Rick Pitino’s Cardinals aren’t quite as talented as last year’s Elite Eight team and have been lightly-tested through five unbeaten games. Expect Denzel Valentine to have a double-double and Deyonta Davis will have another big night off the bench. Sprinkle in a little Eron Harris and Bryn Forbes action and you have a solid Michigan State win.
Final Score: Louisville 64, Michigan State 71