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Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for road battle at No. 19 Iowa

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 03: AAron Henry #11 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts to a call during a game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Breslin Center on December 3, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 03: AAron Henry #11 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts to a call during a game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Breslin Center on December 3, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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LINCOLN, NE – JANUARY 17: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans watches action during the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena on January 17, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE – JANUARY 17: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans watches action during the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena on January 17, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

1. Spartans will cover 5.5-point spread

Some are looking at the 5.5-point spread as a shocking one. Michigan State is favored by almost six points on the road against the No. 19 team in the country, but why?

Well, for starters, the first matchup was an absolute domination by Michigan State. The Spartans smacked the Hawkeyes around for 40 minutes, beating Iowa 90-68 in East Lansing to kick off Big Ten play in early-December, but this time around seems different. Iowa has won 10-of-11 since that game and it’s playing its best ball of the season.

Michigan State, too, is playing out of this world. The Spartans are receiving first-place votes in the AP Top 25, they have won 12 games in a row and they look like they’re hitting their stride in the middle of Big Ten play. Oh yeah, and they have seen tough road games already — at Ohio State and at Nebraska.

This one will be no different as the Spartans will show their experience and take care of business in Iowa City, making the Hawkeyes work for every bucket.

The defense will show up despite the Hawkeyes making a plethora of 3-pointers as they’ll shoot under 40 percent from inside the arc.

dark. Next. MSU football: 5 reasons to be optimistic about 2019 season

Michigan State covers the spread and wins by eight.

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