Two teams with impressive winning streaks tip off as the No. 6 Michigan State Spartans visit Sportsbook Bank Arena to collide with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Michigan State hasn’t lost a match vs a Big Ten opponent since January 13, 2018, a span of 18 games, while Nebraska has defended home court 20 times in a row. One streak will come to a halt tonight. The Spartans have won the last three games with the Cornhuskers and are 2-point favorites in tonight’s game with the total Sportsbook at 146 points.
- Nebraska is 20-0 SU and 14-2-1 ATS in its last 20 home games.
- Michigan State is 10-0 SU and 9-1 ATS in its last 10 games.
- The total has gone OVER in six of Nebraska’s last eight games there were totals for.
Michigan State vs Nebraska Game Center
Spartans’ Offense is Making the Most of its opportunities
Michigan State has a pair of winning streaks on the line for tonight’s game as it has won its last 18 conference games and is on a 10-game winning streak overall. The Spartans opened the season in a tough way, having to tip off against then-No. 1 Kansas in a contest they went on to lose 92-87. They rebounded from that defeat to go on a five-game winning streak until they fell 82-78 in overtime to Louisville.
A big reason for their success has been their fantastic offense. They are the No. 6 scoring team in the nation at 85.5 points per game and have the fifth-best shooting proficiency at 50.5 percent. Leading the charge for Michigan State is junior guard Cassius Winston, who is averaging 17.6 and 7.4 assists per game. They also do a good job creating second-chance opportunities, grabbing 10.4 offensive rebounds per game to rate 48th out of 353 teams.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Spartans are holding teams to just 66.8 points per game for the No. 53 mark in college basketball and limit opponents to just 40.4 percent shooting from two-point range, the third-lowest percentage in the NCAA. One area of concern for Michigan State is its ability to stop teams from shooting the three-ball as it is giving up an average of 23.1 trey attempts per game to rank 210th, but only 30.9 percent of those shots are falling. Lastly, ball possession has been a bit of an issue as the Spartans average 13.2 turnovers per game and the Cornhuskers create 14.6 turnovers per game.
Sportsbook Bank Arena is a tough place to play for opposing teams
Nebraska is tipping off against its second straight ranked opponent, having knocked off No. 25 Indiana 66-51 at Assembly Hall on Monday. That was a big win as the Cornhuskers have had some difficulties in away games this year, sporting a record of 1-3 SU in four true road games. However, tonight is a home game and they have been dominant there. They are 9-0 at Sportsbook Bank Arena this season and have won 20 straight games on home court dating back to their narrow 73-72 defeat to then-No. 13 Kansas on Dec. 16, 2017, the only loss at home that season as well.
The offense comes by committee for the Cornhuskers as they have four players averaging double-digit points per game. They rack up 78.4 points per game to rank 57th in college basketball and shoot 47.5 percent from the floor (44th). Nebraska gets a good chunk of its points from beyond the arc as 32.3 percent of its scoring comes from triples. The Cornhuskers shoot 35.8 percent from long range to rate 103rd in the NCAA.
It is the defense that is pacing Nebraska, though, as it surrenders just 62.2 points per game, the 12th-lowest average in the nation, and that figure drops to just 54.9 ppg at Sportsbook Bank Arena for the fifth-best number at home. They average just 10.6 turnovers per game, the 12th-fewest in college basketball, but they do give up 10.9 offensive rebounds per game, ranking 335th. The Huskers play an uptempo style that allows opponents to average 59.3 shots per game but they are limiting those foes to just 38.8 percent shooting to rank 12th in that category.
Should you be on the OVER?
Tonight’s game features two teams ranking in the top 60 for points scored per game and Sportsbook has the total Sportsbook at 146 points. Both teams will have their opportunities for extra chances as Michigan State has a tendency to turn the ball over at 13.2 times per game and Nebraska creates 14.6 turnovers per game.
Meanwhile, the Cornhuskers allow their opponents to grab the 18th-most offensive rebounds per game and the Spartans grab the 48th-most offensive boards per game. Lastly, both teams give up a lot of shots per game with Michigan State allowing 63.1 shots per game to rank 328th and Nebraska surrendering 59.3 shots per game (230th).
My take on Michigan State vs Nebraska
I like the OVER 146 points. Michigan State has gone OVER 146 in 10 of its 17 games this year and Nebraska has gone OVER or pushed that total in five of its last nine games.
Meanwhile, the Spartans are averaging 85.5 points per game and hitting 50.5 percent of their shots, while the Cornhuskers shoot 47.5 percent from the floor for an average of 78.4 ppg. There will be plenty of opportunities to score for both teams as Michigan State ranks 328th in opponent shots per game and Nebraska ranks 230th.
