3 bold predictions for Michigan State basketball's BTT opener vs. Minnesota

1. Michigan State wins by double-digits

While Michigan State won by 10 in the first meeting this season with Minnesota, the game didn't quite feel like a comfortable win. The Gophers tied things up late with the Spartans before Tyson Walker took over and scored 12 of his 21 points in the final five minutes.

The next game was a thriller after Michigan State coughed up a 9-point lead in the second half after Walker went down with a groin injury (again). The Spartans lost 59-56.

So with two tight games between these two already in the books, that must mean this one is going to be close, too, right? I believe it will for the first half but then something will click in the locker room at halftime for the Spartans. Tom Izzo will get his guys going in the final 20 minutes and they'll survive and advance in a big way.

The game will be within a bucket at the half but Michigan State will put the Gophers on the ropes early in the second half and it'll just keep punching.

Michigan State will cruise to a 77-64 win after getting hot in the second half, setting up a matchup with No. 1 seed Purdue on Friday (oh, joy).