Saturday's Michigan State vs. Wisconsin semifinal matchup is going to be one of the best games of the day as the two will meet for just the second time this season after the Spartans took the first meeting in East Lansing a couple of weeks ago.
That first matchup went down to the wire before Michigan State put the game away late. This time around, the Badgers are coming off a blowout win over UCLA and MSU took down Oregon by 10.
Momentum is on both of these team's sides even though Wisconsin did end the regular season on a sour note, losing to Penn State at home which spoiled the Badgers' senior day. Michigan State, on the other hand, has won eight Quad 1 games in a row and Wisconsin would make it nine on Saturday if the Spartans are able to get the job done and advance to the title game.
These two teams are very evenly-matched and this is a game that could legitimately go either way. Michigan State is the better team, but Wisconsin just hit 19 threes against a good UCLA team, which I thought would make Vegas give the Badgers the nod to be the favorites -- or at least make it a toss-up.
I was wrong. The spread is interesting, according to DraftKings.
Line: Michigan State -3.5
Over/Under: 145.5
Moneyline: Michigan State -166 | Wisconsin +140
Vegas does see this as being a close game, but it gives Michigan State a 3.5-point edge which is rather surprising given how close the first meeting was in Wisconsin. This just means that Vegas is buying into the Michigan State hype and it thinks that the Spartans are that much better on a neutral floor.
You might think that 3.5 points isn't a lot, but between two top-20 teams on a neutral floor when one just beat the other by a slim margin, you'd think it'd be a pick 'em. It's not.
What's my pick? Well, I'm going to trust Vegas here and ride the hot hand. I'm picking the Spartans by five, 78-73.