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

By Connor Muldowney

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)
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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EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 30: Joshua Langford #1 and Xavier Tilman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans helps Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans off the floor during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Breslin Center on November 30, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 30: Joshua Langford #1 and Xavier Tilman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans helps Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans off the floor during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Breslin Center on November 30, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

Southern Utah will take a trip to the Breslin Center, hoping to pull off the unthinkable. The Thunderbirds can score with the best of the mid-majors, but they have one of the worst defenses in college basketball through six games. They’re currently 3-3 on the year and allow an unbelievable 84 points per game as opposed to the Spartans’ 63.

Defense will rule this one as Michigan State will shut down Southern Utah from the perimeter and inside won’t even be fair. Rebounding will also heavily favor the green and white as Nick Ward and Jaren Jackson Jr. put together their best games of the season. Each will finish with a double-double and combine for six blocks.

Final Score: Southern Utah 54, Michigan State 87 — (9-1)

This will be one of the more intriguing games left in the non-conference slate, if not the best matchup. Oakland came into the season with high expectations, but they’ve already been stomped by Toledo, Syracuse and Kansas to put up a 4-3 record. Illinois transfer Kendrick Nunn has been lighting up the scoreboard and Martez Walker also averages over 20 points per game. That duo will be tough to stop as this game will be surprisingly close.

Oakland will see a tough Michigan State defense, though, and those two will struggle late in the game. The Grizzlies will go on a run, but Cassius Winston will put the team on his back late to get the win. He’s going to have yet another coming out party, scoring 26.

Final Score: Oakland 71, Michigan State 80 — (10-1)

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