Happy Champions Classic Day, everyone. Michigan State has officially made it past a successful football Hate Week and now it’s staring down a matchup against No. 2 Duke.
The Blue Devils happen to be the only team in college basketball receiving first-place votes not named Florida. Many, including Tom Izzo, believe that Duke is the best team in the country and if you put any stock into preseason play, there’s a legitimate case for that. The Blue Devils beat Tennessee in the preseason by about 40 points — Tennessee is ranked No. 11.
Michigan State is no slouch either, which makes this top-five battle on Tuesday night one of the most intriguing non-conference games of the 2026-27 season.
Vegas has already set a line and — to no one’s surprise — the Spartans are heavy underdogs. In fact, Michigan State opens as a three-possession underdog against the Blue Devils.
Yes, in a top-five non-conference matchup on a neutral floor, Duke is favored by over a touchdown (for you football people).
Note: Odds via DraftKings.
Line: Duke -7.5
Over/Under: 145.5
Moneyline: Michigan State +270 | Duke -340
Vegas is not high on the Spartans’ chances to upset the No. 2 team in the country during the Champions Classic but that’s exactly how Izzo likes it. He loves being the underdog and playing that role in these games because it often works out for him.
The Spartans have some momentum after a couple of blowout wins where they looked really coordinated and comfortable, but Duke has two wins by a combined 95 points.
The Blue Devils may be the best team that Michigan State faces all year.
The Champions Classic is another Final Four preview
If the Selection Committee wants to really make the NCAA some money, it’ll put Michigan State and Duke on opposite sides of the bracket, or at least in different regions on the same side so they could meet in the Final Four or national title game in Detroit.
The ratings for a Final Four game between Duke and Michigan State this season would probably break some records and it’s only fitting that the Blue Devils would stand in Izzo’s way for national title No. 2.
The Champions Classic is a perfect Final Four preview game, and the atmosphere at the United Center will feel like it at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday night.
The varsity game is first and it’ll be followed by No. 15 Kansas vs. No. 24 Kentucky in what could be another Final Four preview. Both teams are loaded with talent and Kansas may have the top player in the country in Tyran Stokes who’s off to a modest start to his college career.
Tuesday night will be a treat for college basketball fans everywhere and Michigan State and Duke will get things tipped off first at 7 p.m. ET.
Izzo needs to prove that he can actually beat the Blue Devils considering his last win in the series was back in 2020 during that COVID-shortened season. It’s time to end the drought and conjure up some 2019 Elite Eight vibes.
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