Michigan bounced back big against this Spartan team Thursday night after putting up just 53 points against Illinois. Despite that 23 point loss to the Illini, this Wolverines team is still 13-1 at home, 19-2 overall and an incredible 16-5 ATS. They face the second game of a back-to-back vs. an underwhelming Michigan State team (14-11 SU, 8-17 ATS)
- Date/Time: March 7, 4:30 p.m. ET
- Arena: Breslin Center
- TV Coverage: CBS
- Sportsbook Odds: Michigan -7.5 | O/U: 136 (Line History)
- Michigan vs Michigan State (Matchup Report)
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
This line just three days prior back in Ann Arbor closed with Michigan favored by a dozen. Now, on the road, the Wolverines are 7.5-point favorites despite blowing the Spartans out just 72 hours prior. The total for this matchup opened at the 136-point mark.
Michigan State News & Notes
Tom Izzo’s Spartans can’t seem to truly turn a corner on this season. Other than a three-game winning streak in late February, Michigan State hasn’t really put together an impressive stretch. It is most recently coming off a 19-point loss against this Michigan team on Thursday night. The Spartans were held to sub 37 percent from the floor and didn’t make a three the entire game.
Junior Aaron Henry has really stepped up as of late and comes into this contest leading the team easily in points and assists at 15.4 and 3.5 respectively. The 6-foot-6 forward is the only player on the roster to log over 30 minutes per game. Look for senior Joshua Langford to be featured early on as the Spartans celebrate senior day at home.
Michigan News & Notes
The Wolverines, as expected, got right back on track against this Michigan State team Thursday night. They looked extremely locked in defensively holding the Spartans to just 50 points. They improved to a Big Ten-best 19-2 on the season and have covered an even more impressive 12 out of the previous 15 games. Tempo has slowed down big time for the Wolverines as the UNDER has cashed in seven out of their eight previous games.
Michigan offensively scores from all angles. A major bright spot for the Wolverines this season actually comes from its youngest starter in Hunter Dickinson. Dickinson listed at 7-foot-1 leads this team in points and rebounds at 14.4 and 7.8 respectively. Although Dickinson leads this team in a multitude of offensive stats, senior Isaiah Livers leads this ball club in minutes per game and is shooting a lights out 45 percent from beyond the arc.
Betting Pick: Michigan State +7.5
Tom Izzo getting this many points at home? I don’t care how bad Michigan State has looked recently; it is still in the fight for a tournament spot, and is too well-coached to lose this one by more than eight. I actually see this game coming down to the wire.
- The UNDER is 4-1 in Michigan State's last five games.
- Michigan 18-2 SU in its last 20 games.
- Michigan is 12-3 ATS in its last 15 games.
