Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions vs. Michigan in Week 10

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EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 4: Lourawls Nairn Jr. #11 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Breslin Center on January 4, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

1. The game comes down to the final minute

A couple of weeks ago when Michigan State was rolling over inferior opponents to the tune of four straight 100-point games, everyone was talking about the Michigan rivalry game ending in a blowout. The Spartans obviously want revenge for last year’s blowout in Ann Arbor and they would exact it on Jan. 13 in East Lansing.

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Fast forward a couple of weeks and we now see a team that is coming off its two worst performances of the season — a loss by 16 at Ohio State and overtime win over Rutgers at home. The Spartans can’t seem to find consistency on either side of the ball and that’s making things tough on this team.

They’re limping into Saturday’s matchup with the Wolverines and Michigan is playing some solid basketball despite losing to Purdue at home on Tuesday. This has all the makings of a close game despite the home-court advantage and discrepancy in ranking and talent level.

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Michigan State is going to struggle early, but get back into an offensive groove right before the half. This game will go back-and-forth and come down to the final minute when Miles Bridges drives to the hoop and scores the go-ahead basket, never looking back from that point. Free throws will ice it and Michigan State will win by five, 81-76.

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