Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions vs. Oakland in Week 6

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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) /

2. Michigan State scores over 90, pulls away in second half

This game is going to be extremely tight in the first half. The Golden Grizzlies always play the Spartans tough and this season will be no different. The two teams will be back and forth all game long until the final stretch of the second half when the Spartans pull away and win by 19 points.

At halftime, I could see Oakland taking a slight lead or even a tie game, but the Spartans will come out hungry in the final 20 minutes after a strong halftime speech from Tom Izzo. It’s happened multiple times this season where the Spartans have started slow and then after halftime, it’s a different story. That will be the case on Saturday once again.

Defense will struggle early on for the Spartans as the Golden Grizzlies will head into the locker room with about 40 points under their belts. The second half will see more Michigan State defense and less Oakland offense.

The Spartans will score over 90 points — for the third time this season — on that lackluster Oakland defense and win 91-72. A close game will turn into a comfortable win for the green and white, but there’s still plenty to work on.

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