Michigan State basketball: 3 bold predictions for rematch with Michigan

1. Michigan State completes the sweep with a 10-point win

Michigan State desperately needs to win this game against an 8-17 Michigan team not only for pride and bragging rights but also because it could help with that seed line that the Spartans are looking to improve.

The Spartans are projected right now as a 7-seed by most experts with a good chunk of them projecting them as an 8-seed. But Michigan State wants to get more firmly on that 7-line to avoid a potential No. 1 seed in the second round. Heck, keep winning and Michigan State could flirt with a No. 6 or even a No. 5 seed. That would likely require winning every game on the remainder of the schedule with the exception of Purdue and winning 1-2 in the Big Ten Tournament.

Tom Izzo knows the importance of this game and his players usually feed off his hatred for Michigan. Unfortunately, he hasn't won in Ann Arbor since Cassius Winston was still the point guard and that needs to change on Saturday night against this horrid Michigan team.

It will.

Michigan State plays a close first half but then runs away with it in the second half just like the first meeting in front of a split crowd of Wolverines and Spartans.

The Spartans not only cover the 5.5-point spread, but they nearly double that and win by 10.