Michigan State basketball: 5 bold predictions for ranked battle with UCLA

Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions vs. UCLA in Las Vegas Invitational

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 06: Tom Izzo the head coach talks with Joshua Langford #1 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots the ball against the Kansas Jayhawks during the State Farm Champions Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 6, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

5 of 5

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – NOVEMBER 06: Tom Izzo the head coach of the Michigan State Spartans gives instructions to his team against the Kansas Jayhwaks during the State Farm Champions Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 6, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

1. Spartans win by 10

A nice comfortable win over a ranked opponent would be nice, wouldn’t it? Michigan State was no stranger to double-digit wins in non-conference play over ranked opponents a season ago as it beat North Carolina by nearly 20 and Notre Dame by 18. Could we see the same on Thursday?

This is the first of a two-round Las Vegas Invitational tourney and Michigan State will try to conserve some of that energy for a potential title game against either North Carolina or Texas but Tom Izzo does a fantastic job of keeping his guys fresh for back-to-back scenarios. That won’t be a problem here.

Michigan State will race out to a nice lead before UCLA cuts it to three by halftime.

The Spartans will find their stroke to begin the second half behind the hot shooting of Josh Langford and Cassius Winston will hit some big threes as well. Nick Ward will dominate down low and we may even see some fired up Matt McQuaid after draining a back-breaking shot late in the game.

Next. MSU basketball: 10 bold predictions for 2018-19. dark

The Bruins are a good team, but Michigan State’s offense is too hot right now and that’ll lead to a 10-point victory in the opening round.

Home/Spartans Basketball