Michigan State Basketball: Game-by-game predictions for December 2017

PISCATAWAY, NJ - MARCH 2: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans cheers on his team against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half of a college basketball game at the Rutgers Athletic Center on March 2, 2016 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Michigan State defeated Rutgers 97-66. (Photo by Rich Schultz /Getty Images) /

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PISCATAWAY, NJ – MARCH 2: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans cheers on his team against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half of a college basketball game at the Rutgers Athletic Center on March 2, 2016 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Michigan State defeated Rutgers 97-66. (Photo by Rich Schultz /Getty Images) /

Rutgers hasn’t been a serious contender in the Big Ten ever since joining, but the Scarlet Knights can make teams sweat out games. They are 6-1 heading into December and they don’t have a good win yet, but will open Big Ten play with a road game against No. 12 Minnesota.

If the Scarlet Knights can pull off that road win, they have plenty of confidence for when Michigan State comes to town two days later. The Tuesday night matchup in Piscataway shouldn’t be all that close, on paper, but this Michigan State team is playing its first true road game of the season and that might rattle some of the younger players.

Corey Sanders always seems to have good games against the Spartans and he will help keep the game close for a half, but Michigan State’s length and size is just going to be too much for this team. Deshawn Freeman will cause some problems in the post for MSU, but he will get himself into foul trouble which will stretch the Scarlet Knights thin.

The Scarlet Knights are 0-4 against Michigan State with no losses by less than 20 points since joining the Big Ten, and I don’t expect that to change.

Final Score: Michigan State 85, Rutgers 63 — (8-1, 2-0 Big Ten)

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