Michigan State Basketball: Staff score predictions vs. Maryland in Week 9
Michigan State basketball faces off against Maryland to resume Big Ten play in Week 9, but who will come out on top?
Big Ten basketball is finally back and Michigan State will host a tough Maryland team on Thursday night. The Spartans are 14-1 with a 2-0 mark in conference play and Maryland is 13-3 with a 2-1 record in Big Ten action.
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Maryland has suffered some major injuries, knocking Ivan Bender and Justin Jackson out for a while, making this game even more difficult on the Terrapins. However, Maryland and Mark Turgeon always seem to give the Spartans trouble, and the latest matchup will be no different.
Our staff has weighed in on score predictions for Thursday night’s game.
Connor Muldowney: Maryland has been hampered by injuries this season and that will play a part in Thursday night’s bout. The Spartans are too deep for the injury-hampered Terrapins and it’ll show. Miles Bridges is going to have a big game, Cassius Winston will dish 10 assists and Nick Ward is going to remain hot. This game has all the makings of a blowout, but the Terrapins always play Michigan State tough, and this game will be no different. The Spartans will win by double-digits, but the final score will be closer than they would have hoped.
Final Score: Maryland 67, Michigan State 81
Michael Briggs: Michigan State has been playing like the number one team in the nation for quite some time, but will now have the target on its back that comes with that official title. Don’t expect a small number change to make this MSU team jittery or overconfident, though. These Spartans are as level-headed as it gets in college sports.
I expect Michigan State to come out strong Thursday night against its first legitimate opponent in weeks, Maryland. The Terps could have made this interesting, but with forwards Justin Jackson and Ivan Bender both out for the remainder of the season, the Spartans will coast to another victory. Michigan State’s reign as the nation’s top dog is unlikely to end anytime soon.
Final Score: Maryland 65, Michigan State 89
Adam Zdroik: The freshman battle between Bruno Fernando and Jaren Jackson will be fun to watch, but I’m not sure Kevin Huerter can keep up with Miles Bridges or Michael Cekovsky can stay out of foul trouble against Nick Ward. The absence of Justin Jackson will show in this game for the Terps as Michigan State comes out strong building on its second half against Savannah State.
Final Score: Maryland 66, Michigan State 81
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Stephen Robb: This game will test for the Spartans. They have feasted off the lower tier schools the last several weeks. This Maryland squad has endured lineup changes and injuries to stars like Justin Jackson. However, the Terrapins are 13-3 and play a methodical type of basketball. They only turned the ball over five times against Penn State. MSU will need to set the pace and impose its will upon the Terrapins. It will come down to MSU’s star power that will lead the way.
Final Score: Maryland 68, Michigan State 75