Tom Izzo has himself quite the basketball team on his hands but the Spartans are preparing for one of their toughest battles of the conference season thus far. That's right, Saturday's Michigan State vs. Rutgers game looks like it should be all Spartans, on paper, but the Scarlet Knights are much better than their record suggests.
The Spartans are 16-2 on the season and have won 11 straight games while Rutgers is coming off a loss to Penn State that broke up a much-needed two-game winning streak.
Rutgers also has two of the best players in the Big Ten in Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper. Both are averaging over 19 points per game and they're going to give Michigan State's defense quite the test on Saturday in New York. Stopping one might be possible but stopping both probably isn't.
But it feels like the Spartans are breaking every stereotype about the program that has built up over the past four years within the fanase. This team has been different.
That's probably why I think the odds for Saturday's matchup are moving ever-so-slightly in Michigan State's direction, per DraftKings.
Line: Michigan State -5.5
Over/Under: 149.5
Moneyline: Michigan State -258 | Rutgers +210
Earlier on Friday, the Spartans were -238 favorites on the Moneyline, but it looks like it's been boosted a bit. Also, Michigan State has been shifting back and forth between -5.5 and -6.5. I'd be willing to be the line is 6.5 in favor of the Spartans before tip.
Vegas sees something it likes in Michigan State on Saturday in New York despite its all-time record at Madison Square Garden being 4-17. Izzo has a daunting task on his hands but Vegas feels good about it.