Everyone is already talking about Friday’s Michigan vs Michigan State showdown which is expected to be the best matchup between the two teams since Cassius Winston was still around.
The Spartans are 19-2 on the season after sneaking by Rutgers on Tuesday night with a come-from-behind overtime win. Jeremy Fears, Coen Carr, and Divine Ugochukwu saved the day with huge plays down the stretch to secure the win for Michigan State. The Spartans may have gotten caught looking ahead to Michigan a bit.
Michigan State is now one win away from a program record start, and it’ll have to learn quickly from that near-upset at Rutgers. I don’t doubt that Tom Izzo and Fears will be ready for this one.
Speaking of Izzo, it’s his 71st birthday on Friday, so a win over Michigan would probably be the best present he could ask for. He’s 7-1 all-time on his birthday and 3-0 against the Wolverines on Jan. 30.
Michigan, on the other hand, is 19-1 on the season after beating No. 5 Nebraska on Tuesday, albeit with two of the Cornhuskers’ three best players out with injuries. This Michigan team is very good and a lot better than last season’s, but the Wolverines are also very beatable. If there’s a defense that could slow down this Michigan offense, it’s Michigan State’s (No. 1 on KenPom).
Michigan State is riding a seven-game winning streak, but Vegas believes in Michigan.
Michigan State is a home underdog for the second time
For the second time this season, Michigan State opens as a home underdog. The Spartans were 1.5 dogs against Duke earlier in the season, and that’s the case once again heading into Friday.
Odds courtesy of DraftKings as of Wednesday, Jan. 28
Line: Michigan State +1.5
Over/Under: 145.5
Moneyline: Michigan State -102 | Michigan -118
Michigan State is being given the underdog treatment on their own floor, but Duke was probably the best team that’ll play at Breslin Center this year. I think Michigan is very good, and Final Four caliber, but there are cracks in this Wolverine team that are beginning to show.
I personally like Michigan State to win outright, and I believe that it will, but Vegas has me questioning my own gut — and I don’t like that.