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Michigan State vs. Samford final odds and a prediction

By Connor Muldowney

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo talks to players at a a timeout against Bowling Green during the first half at Breslin Center in East Lansing on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024.
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo talks to players at a a timeout against Bowling Green during the first half at Breslin Center in East Lansing on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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I was fortunate enough to not be able to watch Michigan State basketball's Saturday night battle with Bowling Green live because I was helping my best friend get married, but when I sat down to watch the replay on Sunday, I knew it was going to be ugly.

More of the same issues popped up from Saturday's game that had been present through the first three games of the year: shooting woes, in particular.

Michigan State just can't seem to find the bottom of the hoop from long range and who knows if that's going to change any time soon.

The Spartans have shooters, allegedy, but we have yet to see them consistently make shots from deep. Michigan State is last place in college basketball in 3-point shooting percentage at 20 through four games, making a total of 16 threes on 80 attempts. That's unacceptable.

Now, the Spartans will face a Samford team looking to pull off the upset in East Lansing.

What does Vegas think about this matchup?

Note: Odds are courtesy of DraftKings as of Tuesday, Nov. 19.

Line: Michigan State -17.5
Over/Under: 163.5
Moneyline: Michigan State -1800 | Samford +1000

Vegas thinks this is going to be a high-scoring affair despite Michigan State's shooting woes and it also believes that the Spartans are going to win comfortably.

I'd say that this game is closer than Michigan State would've hoped through the first 20 minutes and then it oulls away in the second half to cover the spread. It'll feel uncomfortable through 20 minutes, but Tom Izzo's halftime scolding will spark something and Michigan State comes out hot and actually lights it up from deep.

Final score: Samford 63, Michigan State 84

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