The two-game West Coast swing will be complete on Tuesday night as Michigan State basketball will face off against a solid UCLA team riding a five-game winning streak.
The Spartans, on the other hand, lost to USC on Saturday in one of their worst performances of the year, playing sloppily from start to finish. They trailed the entire game and lost by six, 70-64, setting up for a must-win opportunity on Tuesday night at UCLA. Two losses on the road would be detrimental for Big Ten title hopes while a win would keep them in the driver's seat.
On Saturday, Michigan State was favored against the Trojans by 4.5 but that's not the case on Tuesday after its first loss in two months.
In fact, according to DraftKings, Michigan State is a surprising underdog but the odds are quickly moving in the Spartans' direction.
Line: UCLA -1.5
Over/Under: 139
Moneyline: Michigan State +110 | UCLA -130
When I checked on Tuesday morning, UCLA was favored by 3.5 points, but the odds have been moving quickly in the Spartans' direction with the Bruins only favored by 1.5. At this point, this is essentially a pick 'em.
Michigan State just lost its first game in two months and it has just three losses all year but UCLA has been playing well, winning five in a row, including two ranked wins over Wisconsin and Oregon.
A win for Michigan State here would be a statement to the rest of the Big Ten. And I think the Spartans will make it. I just don't see them dropping both road games on this West Coast swing. Michigan State locks down defensively and holds the Bruins under 70 points, winning a thriller, getting revenge for that NCAA Tournament loss to UCLA in 2021.
Final score: Michigan State 71, UCLA 68