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Michigan State Basketball: 5 reasons Spartans will beat Oakland in Week 6

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 30: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots the ball 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: Nick Ward #44 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots the ball 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) /
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Michigan State basketball will take on the Oakland Golden Grizzlies at Little Caesars Arena Saturday afternoon and here’s why the Spartans will win.

Although Michigan State wasn’t vaulted to the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 this week, the Spartans know just how talented and special this team is. Tom Izzo has assembled potentially his best team since taking over in East Lansing and will look for his 10th win of the season on Saturday.

Last season, the Spartans didn’t reach 10 wins until Dec. 30 and 15 games into the campaign, but this year has a different feel. Michigan State can reach that mark about two weeks earlier on the calendar, but the Oakland Golden Grizzlies stand in the way.

Michigan State beat the in-state foe 77-65 last year and this year will be another tough battle, but the Golden Grizzlies, led by head coach Greg Kampe, have suffered through a tough start to the season.

Here’s why Michigan State will take down Oakland at LCA on Saturday.

5. Oakland’s defense is mediocre

Even with everyone healthy, Oakland’s defense hasn’t been all that effective this season. In fact, the Golden Grizzlies average about 79 points per game, but allow 79 as well — that’s good for 302nd in the country. That’s not going to get the job done against a powerful Michigan State offense.

Without some bodies as both the guard position and in the post, the Golden Grizzlies might be ailing heading into this one and it might get even worse with Michigan State seemingly firing on all cylinders this season.

Granted, the Spartans tend to play down to their competition often, but there’s no way Michigan State can let this opportunity to score points in bunches pass it by. Michigan State averages just over 80 points per game and it owns the best offense the Golden Grizzlies have faced this year. This is a mismatch made in heaven for the Spartans.

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