Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for road battle at Florida

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 23: Joshua Langford #1 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots against Jericho Sims #20 of the Texas Longhorns during the championship game of the 2018 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on November 23, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Michigan State defeated Texas 78-68. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 23: Joshua Langford #1 of the Michigan State Spartans shoots against Jericho Sims #20 of the Texas Longhorns during the championship game of the 2018 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on November 23, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Michigan State defeated Texas 78-68. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /
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PISCATAWAY, NJ – NOVEMBER 30: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts after a basket against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half of a college basketball game at the Rutgers Athletic Center on November 30, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Michigan State defeated Rutgers 78-67. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images,)
PISCATAWAY, NJ – NOVEMBER 30: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts after a basket against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half of a college basketball game at the Rutgers Athletic Center on November 30, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Michigan State defeated Rutgers 78-67. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images,) /

1. Michigan State wins by double-digits

This may seem unlikely given the fact that Florida is coming off a 10-point neutral site victory over West Virginia, but the Spartans are playing exceptionally well of late.

Michigan State is coming off an 11-point road win against Rutgers and a 22-point victory over No. 18 Iowa at Breslin Center earlier in the week. That leaves Florida as the next potential victim on the Spartans’ schedule. The Gators won’t go down easily, though.

Don’t get me wrong, I think Florida could be a tournament team as Mike White has done a solid job of turning this program back in the right direction after Billy Donovan’s departure, but the Gators have take a slight step back this season, at least thus far, as opposed to last year.

Michigan State will fight a back-and-forth battle early on, like it usually does, before taking a five-point lead into the half.

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In the second half, Michigan State will get off to a hot start and extend the lead to 13 before Florida starts chipping away, getting it back to five. The Spartans will shut the door thanks to a couple of big Cassius Winston 3-pointers as the Spartans win, 77-67.