Don't look now, folks, Michigan State is the hottest team in the Big Ten, winning four in a row against Illinois, Purdue, Michigan, and Maryland to go from ice-cold on a bit of a skid to piping-hot and tied atop the Big Ten standings at 14-3 in conference play.
Not only are the Spartans atop the Big Ten standings at 14-3, but they are also 23-5 overall and backetologists are projecting them as a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
That's what makes Sunday's Michigan State vs. Maryland games one of the most intriguing of the regular season and it might even be the Spartans' toughest matchup of the year.
Wisconsin comes in at 22-6 overall and 12-5 in conference play, fresh off a shocking loss to Oregon at home two games ago. If the Badgers had won that game, they would likely be playing for a shot at the Big Ten title on Sunday. They still have hope, but being two games behind with three to go means help will be needed.
Michigan State has been money at home this season (outside of the Indiana game) and Wisconsin has beaten just one top-50 team on the road. Yet the spread, via DraftKings, is just a little tighter than expected.
Spread: Michigan State -4.5
Over/Under: 146.5
Moneyline: Michigan State -205 | Wisconsin +170
First place in the Big Ten, off the toughest stretch of the season, going 4-0 in that time, and playing its best ball of the season and yet they've been flipping between 3.5 and 4.5-point favorites? That doesn't make a ton of sense to me, but Vegas knows best. Still, I think I take MSU and the points here just because the Spartans have been so hot and they're back home with huge goals still alive.
The Spartans need a win and a Michigan loss on Sunday to Illinois to really create a nice cushion and opportunity to cruise into the season finale with at least a guarantee of a share of the Big Ten title, assuming they take care of Iowa in Iowa City this week.
Prediction: Wisconsin 71, Michigan State 81