Michigan State Basketball: Game-by-game predictions for January 2018

Now this is the game everyone has been waiting for. Michigan beat the Spartans by 39 points in Ann Arbor last season and every player in the green and white has that stuck in the memory bank.

There’s no reason Michigan State should come out flat in this one as there should be no trouble getting up for a big game against an in-state rival at home. The Spartans will be heavy favorites, but Michigan is no pushover this season despite losing Derrick Walton Jr. and DJ Wilson.

This game will be much closer than people expect, though, as the Wolverines aren’t just going to roll over when the Spartans add the pressure. The Wolverines are a sharpshooting outside team and that’s something that has given Michigan State fits this year.

Charles Matthews will have a solid game for the Wolverines and Mo Wagner will continue to get under the Spartans’ skin, but in the end, Michigan State will get revenge — although not a blowout like they would have liked. It will, however, be capped off with some Miles Bridges slams which will make Breslin Center deafening.

Nick Ward and Jaren Jackson Jr. will have monster games in the post.

Final Score: Michigan 67, Michigan State 76 (18-1, 6-0 Big Ten)