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Michigan State Basketball: Staff score predictions vs. North Carolina

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 19: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans dunks during the game against the Stony Brook Seawolves at Breslin Center on November 19, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 19: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans dunks during the game against the Stony Brook Seawolves at Breslin Center on November 19, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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Michigan State basketball will face off against No. 9 North Carolina on Sunday evening in the title game of the PK80 tournament.

The Michigan State basketball season is still young, but the Spartans are playing a tough schedule early on, yet again. They faced Duke in the Champions Classic, Connecticut in the second round of the PK80 and will now face No. 9 North Carolina in the tourney title game.

Must Read: MSU Basketball: 5 takeaways from Spartans’ win over UConn

After North Carolina, the Spartans will take on a red-hot Notre Dame team. Will the Spartans be able to hold off the Tar Heels on Sunday night, though?

Here are the score predictions for the PK80 title game from the Spartan Avenue staff.

Connor Muldowney: Two days ago, after the DePaul win, I would have told you that Michigan State was going to lose the PK80 title game, if the Spartans were to make it. They looked lost without Miles Bridges and let a lowly DePaul team hang around. After the Connecticut win, I’m singing a different tune. The Spartans look like a much better team with Cassius Winston playing at a high level and he’s going to carry over that confidence against the Tar Heels. This will be one of the better games of the early-season, but the Spartans will get big performances form the post players (Nick Ward, Jaren Jackson Jr., Xavier Tillman) en route to a nice win.

Final Score: North Carolina 74, Michigan State 77

Michael Briggs: Michigan State doesn’t need to beat North Carolina, but it could certainly use the win. The Tar Heels are 15-3 all-time against the Spartans, with seven consecutive wins. MSU has also lost five straight games against AP Top 10 opponents. This should be the game it breaks that streak.

To do that, the Spartans need to play two halves of solid basketball — not one. Michigan State needs an aggressive Miles Bridges and a controlled Nick Ward. It needs its shooters to convert when they get open looks. It needs Jaren Jackson Jr. to flash like the lottery pick he’ll eventually be. If all that happens, the Spartans will buck their recent trend of losses in these marquee early-season games. My gut says Bridges and MSU will get it done.

Final Score: North Carolina 71, Michigan State 76

Next: Cassius Winston flashes tremendous potential vs. UConn

Adam Zdroik: Jaren Jackson Jr. will use his length to give Luke Maye problems and Miles Bridges will have a breakout game in a huge spot. MSU’s depth will be too much for a younger UNC squad.

Final Score: North Carolina 77, Michigan State 83

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