Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for Indiana battle in Week 13

1. Michigan State wins by 20

Let’s face it, Indiana is struggling right now. The Hoosiers haven’t even been able to keep games close lately with their tightest loss coming at Northwestern three contests ago, losing by seven. Archie Miller’s team has taken a turn for the worst and the confidence level of his guys is plummeting, with no end in sight.

Indiana faces the tough task of slowing down the Spartans who were just defeated by Purdue — their first Big Ten loss — last weekend in front of a national audience in East Lansing for College GameDay.

No, Indiana won’t magically turn things around Saturday and it may not be pretty, but the Hoosiers will keep it close for a half before the floodgates open and Michigan State pulls away like it usually does against inferior opponents.

The Spartans will take an eight-point lead into the half and fans will wonder why it’s not larger — turnovers will be the most likely reason — and they’ll extend that lead in the second half to 20, getting at distant as 25 before coming back down to a 20-point victory.

A nice rebound game after falling for the first time in conference play and the win will put Michigan State in sole possession of first place.