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Michigan State Basketball: 10 bold predictions for 2018-19 season

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 31: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks to Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans during a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Breslin Center on January 31, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 31: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans talks to Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans during a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Breslin Center on January 31, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 20: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans holds the Big Ten trophy after the Spartan defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – FEBRUARY 20: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans holds the Big Ten trophy after the Spartan defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini at Breslin Center on February 20, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

3. Spartans repeat as Big Ten regular season champs

Sure, a favorable schedule helped the Spartans in 2017-18, but winning the Big Ten regular season title isn’t easy no matter how “easy” the road is.

Michigan State had all the talent to run away with the regular season title a year ago, but some hiccups against Michigan and Ohio State nearly cost the Spartans the crown. Everyone expected Michigan State to win the conference at the start of the season and it nearly didn’t happen because of Ohio State’s surge and Purdue’s consistency.

Next. MSU basketball: 5 bold predictions for November. dark

The Spartans have a decent schedule this year, facing Purdue, Ohio State, Michigan, Indiana and Nebraska twice. They also face Iowa twice — a team that could surprise some people this season.

Even with that difficult schedule, the Spartans will finish 16-4 in conference play to capture the regular season crown. It won’t be one of those seasons where the No. 1 team in the league will need to lose less than two games to win the Big Ten, especially with two added conference games.

Michigan State will gel at the right time and catch fire in conference play to win the title for the second straight season and ninth time under Tom Izzo.

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