Upset is on the mind of Jaden Akins, Tom Izzo, and Michigan State basketball heading into Tuesday night's matchup with No. 1 Kansas.
The Spartans may not have a winning record all time in the Champions Classic, but they have held their own and Izzo has some signature wins in this event. He's hoping to add another one on Tuesday night as the Spartans are underdogs heading into a big showdown at State Farm Arena.
The Champions Classic is one of the best events every year and college basketball fans everywhere usually can't wait to tune in (unless you're a UConn fan and you complain every season about not being part of the event). This year's edition might not feature four ranked teams as expected, but the Spartans could change that with a big win.
Through two games, Michigan State looks every bit the part of a Big Ten contender and if it can take down the No. 1 team in the nation, it'll be up in those rankings next week.
What does Vegas think about Tuesday night's matchup for the Spartans?
Note: Odds are courtesy of DraftKings as of Tuesday afternoon.
Line: Kansas -6
Over/Under: 150.5
Moneyline: Kansas -258 | Michigan State +210
Honestly, this feels like it will be a tight game and it could go either way. Vegas is projecting a close game and the fact that it's only a 6-point spread between the No. 1 team in the country and an unranked Michigan State team shows just how much respect there is for the Spartans.
I am actually going with the upset here because I think Kansas is still trying to gel and Michigan State has been really playing well together through two games.
It'll be as close as can be, but the Spartans get the last laugh against Hunter Dickinson.
Final score: Michigan State 78, Kansas 75