Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for November 2017

Michigan State basketball is just over a week away from the start of the 2017 season and here are five bold predictions for the first month.

All the talk in East Lansing lately has been about the football program. The Spartans have exceeded expectations and are looking to win the Big Ten title. However, the basketball team isn’t all that shabby, either.

In fact, Tom Izzo’s team is ranked No. 2 in preseason polls and opens the season Friday against North Florida. If all goes as planned this season, the Spartans will give Izzo his second national title and Miles Bridges will be a top draft pick in 2018.

The month of November won’t be easy, though, as there could potentially be four ranked teams on the radar. Can the Spartans weather the early storm?

Take a look at these five bold predictions for the month of November.

5. Spartans beat Oregon, North Carolina to win PK80

The Spartans’ schedule in the Phil Knight Invitational won’t be easy. In fact, outside of the opener against DePaul, Michigan State will likely face Oregon and if it wins that second round game against the host team, it will face off against the winner of Arkansas, or Oklahoma, and North Carolina.

With Michigan State picking up steam at this point in the young season, the Spartans will handle DePaul by 20 to move on and face Oregon. This isn’t the same Ducks team from a year ago, though, as key pieces, such as Dillon Brooks and Jordan Bell, have moved on. Michigan State will win by 10-15 points and head to the title game against North Carolina.

Roy Williams and the Tar Heels have given Tom Izzo and the Spartans fits over the years and they’re coming off a national title, but Michigan State will be the stronger team. Injuries have hampered the Tar Heels and star guard Joel Berry will likely be out. This one will come down to the wire, but Izzo finally triumphs over Williams.