Could this be set up any more perfectly? Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo has a chance to break Bob Knight's all-time Big Ten wins record on Tuesday night against -- you guessed it -- the record-holder's former team, Indiana.
The Hoosiers are coming off a home loss to Michigan in which they nearly completed a 16-point comeback and they're fighting for a spot in the projected NCAA Tournament field.
Michigan State, on the other hand, suffered a recent two-game losing streak on a West Coast road trip against UCLA and USC before coming back home to respond to a 14-point halftime deficit to beat Oregon. The Spartans are 19-4 on the season and just 0.5 games behind Purdue in the Big Ten title race at 10-2 -- that could change on Tuesday night as the Boilermakers are in Ann Arbor to face fellow first-place contender Michigan.
On paper, this feels like a lopsided matchup. And Vegas agrees with Michigan State closing as a heavy favorite heading into Tuesday night's game, according to DraftKings.
Line: Michigan State -11.5
Over/Under: 148.5
Moneyline: Michigan State -750 | Indiana +525
The Spartans are heavy favorites for this one and it makes complete sense because, well, the Hoosiers have really struggled on Mike Woodson this season after beginning the year ranked and he's announced that he'll be retiring at the end of the season. Indiana has been reeling and they just don't have the firepower to keep up with a team like the Spartans.
Izzo has had some slip-ups against Indiana over the years and this could very well be a trap with Illinois up next but I think the Spartans hold on and cover the spread.
Prediction: Indiana 69, Michigan State 85