3 bold predictions for Michigan State basketball at Northwestern

Michigan State's Coen Carr, center, celebrates with, from left, Jase Richardson, Frankie Fidler and Jaden Akins after Carr's 3-pointer against Florida Atlantic during the second half on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in East Lansing.
Michigan State's Coen Carr, center, celebrates with, from left, Jase Richardson, Frankie Fidler and Jaden Akins after Carr's 3-pointer against Florida Atlantic during the second half on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in East Lansing. | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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3. Michigan State wins by 10-plus

A year ago, Michigan State followed up a 31-point home win in the Izzone Alumni game with a road loss to Northwestern. Like usual, Boo Buie played fairly well and him and Ty Berry combined for 41 points and downed the Spartans (who were on a long winning streak), 88-74.

It feels like this year has a similar recipe for disaster. Michigan State is riding a long winning streak and is coming off a 34-point home win on Izzone Alumni night against Washington.

Tom Izzo is just more motivated this season, it seems, so I don't see history repeating itself.

The Spartans battle back from an early deficit to take a 2-point lead into halftime before coming out hot and hitting a couple of threes in the opening minutes of the second half to take command of the game. From there, it will be a cruise to victory in the final minutes as the Spartans avoid the patended letdown against Northwestern.

Michigan State wins 80-69.