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Michigan State Basketball: Game-by-game predictions for 2020-21 season

By Connor Muldowney

Dec 3, 2019; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Marcus Bingham Jr. (30) gestures during the first half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils at Breslin Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2019; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Marcus Bingham Jr. (30) gestures during the first half of a game against the Duke Blue Devils at Breslin Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 1, 2020; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Micah Potter (11) works the ball against Michigan State Spartans forward Julius Marble (right) at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 1, 2020; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Micah Potter (11) works the ball against Michigan State Spartans forward Julius Marble (right) at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports /

Michigan State starts Big Ten play with a favorable matchup against Northwestern in Evanston. There will still be no real home-court advantage when this game takes place and even if there were fans in attendance, MSU travels well here. Northwestern should be better than 3-17 in league play, but it will fall just short here.

Final Score: Michigan State 71, Northwestern 65 (6-2, 1-0 Big Ten)

Michigan State and Wisconsin shared a Big Ten title a season ago and the Spartans took the matchup in East Lansing rather comfortably. This one will be closer as Wisconsin returns just about all of its production and this could be a top-15 matchup. The Spartans win a close one thanks to a big game from Rocket Watts — again.

Final Score: Wisconsin 70, Michigan State 74 (7-2, 2-0)

Poor Minnesota. It seems like the Gophers can just never get over that hump and after finishing 12th in the Big Ten last season, I don’t expect this team to be much better, if at all, without Daniel Oturu. Marcus Carr is back, but the Spartans will just have too much depth for the mediocre Gophers.

Final Score: Michigan State 78, Minnesota 68 (8-2, 3-0)

Fred Hoiberg might be the best thing to happen to Nebraska in a while and the Cornhuskers will no doubt improve on their two wins in conference play from last season, but they still aren’t there yet. We may see Jack Hoiberg get the start here again and the Spartans will win with another 3-point barrage in Lincoln.

Final Score: Michigan State 75, Nebraska 64 (9-2, 4-0)

Yes, Rutgers is ranked. No, that’s not a typo. The Scarlet Knights finished 20-11 last season and Steve Pikiell is building something impressive in Piscataway. The Scarlet Knights bring back Ron Harper Jr. and Geo Baker and they will be a tough out here. The Spartans escape an upset here to start Big Ten play 5-0.

Final Score: Rutgers 64, Michigan State 69 (10-2, 5-0)

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