Michigan State Basketball: 3 bold predictions vs. red-hot Minnesota

1. Michigan State wins a tight one

Who would have thought that after a 6-0 start and road win over Duke, Michigan State fans would be ready to hit the panic button? I didn’t see that, but the sloppy games against Detroit Mercy, Western Michigan and Oakland should have been red flags. This team was coasting by without putting together complete games and that has caught up with them.

Michigan State has as much talent as any team in the conference but it’s just not playing to its potential on offense and definitely not defensively.

Fans will be questioning this team quite a bit on Monday night, especially after yet another slow start, but this game might have the catapulting effect that last year’s win at Illinois had. And just like last season’s victory in Champaign, this will be a tight battle down the stretch.

Michigan State will find itself down eight early but it’ll battle back to tie things up at the half and then secure a lead in the second half. It’ll then be back and forth before Rocket Watts takes over and picks Marcus Carr’s pocket a couple of times, taking the ball coast-to-coast for two big scores late.

The Spartans will hit clutch free throws to hold on as this one won’t be easy on the heart. Spartan fans beware, this will be another gut-wrenching game, but this time it’ll be a three-point win.