Tom Izzo has probably had Tuesday’s Michigan State vs UCLA game circled on his calendar for weeks. While he never gets caught looking ahead to any opponents, he had to be excited to welcome a familiar face back to the Breslin Center.
Xavier Booker is returning to East Lansing for the first time as an opponent after transferring from Michigan State to UCLA this past offseason. While many believed Izzo and Booker’s relationship was strained, leading to the transfer, Izzo told a different story ths week leading up to the game. He admitted to the media that he still talks to Booker regularly and he wishes it would’ve worked out.
Izzo also said that he hopes that fans avoid booing Booker because he never did anything wrong and he was unproblematic as both a player and a person at Michigan State.
Spartan fans will listen to Izzo and give Booker a nice cheer when he enters the game for the first time, but the rest of the game will feature a hostile environment. Michigan State fans are hungry for a win and to get back on track, so you better believe the Izzone will be bringing its ‘A’ game.
Final betting odds for Michigan State vs UCLA moved slightly
Both teams are coming off lopsided road losses, but Vegas is giving Michigan State the benefit of the doubt on Tuesday night because, well, the Spartans are at home and they have Izzo.
The line has been moving slightly in Michigan State’s favor over the past 24 hours.
Odds via DraftKings as of Tuesday, Feb. 17
Line: Michigan State -8.5
Over/Under: 139.5
Moneyline: Michigan State -425 | UCLA +330
I believe Michigan State is going to cover and find a way to get back on track on both ends of the floor. The Spartans will hold UCLA well under their season average for scoring and they’ll approach 80 themselves. This will be a much-needed confidence-booster for Michigan State before it enters the toughest stretch of the season next week.
Michigan State leads from wire-to-wire and covers, 75-62 (a slight change from my previous prediction).