Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for 2022 NCAA Tournament

1. MSU beats Foster Loyer, Coach K, gives Gonzaga a run in Elite Eight

Michigan State’s first-round matchup is going to be tough. Davidson shoots lights out and, led by former Spartan Foster Loyer, the Wildcats are going to be hungry for an upset. But Tom Izzo’s game-plans are elite in March and with five days to prepare, he’s going to make sure the Spartans have the perfect plan to beat Davidson.

It won’t be easy, but I think the Spartans beat Davidson by five points.

That win will match the Spartans up with Duke in yet another episode of Coach K vs. Izzo and although the former has held the big advantage over time, Michigan State’s Hall of Fame coach has won two of the last three meetings. This will be the last installment of this rivalry and it’s only fitting that Izzo sends Coach K home for good.

Beating Duke will give this team a ton of confidence and the Spartans will face either Texas Tech or Alabama in the next round and I think Michigan State wins either one of those matchups with a week of preparation. That win will send the Spartans to the Elite Eight to face Gonzaga.

While I don’t see Michigan State beating the Zags, they won’t get blown out like people will expect and it’ll be decided by fewer than five points.

Not a bad run for the seventh-seeded Spartans.