Michigan State vs Maryland isn’t exactly going to be at the top of everyone’s list of Saturday’s must-watch games, but it’ll be yet another home matchup against a new Big Ten head coach.
Buzz Williams was hired this past offseason after Kevin Willard shockingly left the Terrapins for Villanova. The first-year head coach isn’t exactly having a smooth transition to the Big Ten, starting the conference season just 1-7 and Maryland is just 8-11 overall after a 5-1 start to the year.
Tom Izzo is now facing his third first-year Big Ten head coach at the Breslin Center this season, beating the other two by an average of 20 points. Williams could be next in line to earn a bit of a Breslin Center initiation — all new coaches have to experience that atmosphere for the first time like deer in headlights.
Williams has experience, though, so he’s going to be prepared.
Unfortunately, I just don’t think Maryland has the dogs to keep up with Michigan State. They do have Darius Adams who they beat Michigan State out for this past offseason, but the Spartans are much deeper and more talented, which is why they hold opposite conference records.
Betting Odds for Michigan State vs Maryland
Odds courtesy of DraftKings as of Saturday, Jan. 24.
Line: Michigan State -19.5
Over/Under: 140.5
Moneyline: Michigan State -3600 | Maryland +1500
Vegas isn’t too confident that the Terrapins are going to keep it closer than the last two first-year head coaches did in East Lansing. The line has moved slightly toward Michigan State over the past 24 hours, and it might end up at -20.5 by the time the game tips off.
Predicting Michigan State vs Maryland
These two teams are trending in opposite directions, the Spartans are just way too talented and deep for this Terrapin team, and Williams hasn’t experienced the Breslin Center crowd before. Jeremy Fears is going to have a field day, and Michigan State is going to win big.
Final score: Maryland 62, Michigan State 82