Michigan State basketball: 3 bold predictions for big Michigan matchup

Michigan State's A.J. Hoggard calls out to teammates against Oakland during the first half on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.221221 Msu Oakland 040a
Michigan State's A.J. Hoggard calls out to teammates against Oakland during the first half on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.221221 Msu Oakland 040a /
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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – MARCH 04: Head coach Juwan Howard of the Michigan Wolverines shakes hands with head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans after a 69-50 Michigan win at Crisler Arena on March 04, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – MARCH 04: Head coach Juwan Howard of the Michigan Wolverines shakes hands with head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans after a 69-50 Michigan win at Crisler Arena on March 04, 2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

1. Michigan State pulls away late to win by 10

I think this game will be closer than a lot of Michigan State fans think. Michigan may have struggled so far this season, but the Wolverines are also 3-0 in conference play.

Both teams are jockeying for position in the Big Ten standings and a win for either side puts them in a really good spot before the heart of conference play begins. This is going to be an intense matchup from the opening tip.

The Spartans may even trail by halftime and it’ll take a herculean effort from AJ Hoggard to get the team back on track and recapture the lead.

Michigan State will take the lead in the second half and never look back. They’ll hold on and even pull away to make it look like an even more lopsided affair than it truly was.

Tom Izzo will coach his way to a 10-point win over the rival Wolverines and Juwan Howard will drop to 0-4 as a coach at Breslin Center.

dark. Next. 5 bold predictions for MSU basketball in January