If the Michigan State Spartans feel snubbed by the committee for not getting a No.1 seed, they will get their chance to take it out on Middle Tennessee Friday. The Spartans will enter the game as a massive favorite, but they are a perfect 7-0 SU and ATS in their past seven games when favored by 17.5 points or more.
- Michigan State is 12-2 ATS in their past 14 games.
- Middle Tennessee is 1-5 ATS in their past six games as underdogs of 17.5 points or more.
- The UNDER is 7-3 in Michigan State’s past 10 games following an ATS loss.
There is a real argument to be made that Michigan State is the most complete team in the nation, as the Spartans finished in the top 25 in points, points allowed and rebounds while finishing with the most assists per game in the country. The most complete player in the nation, Denzel Valentine, leads the incredibly effective team. The senior became the first player in recorded history to finish a season averaging 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
The Blue Raiders ended the season on a six-game winning streak with their relatively mediocre offense topping 75 points or more in four of those six contests. There is no doubt what got Middle Tennessee dancing though — it was their defense that held opponents to 68.3 ppg.
Click here for historical stats for the 2 vs 15 seed matchup.
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs Michigan State Spartans Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
Supporters of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders have watched them go 24-9 and 16-16-1 ATS on the college basketball season, while the Michigan State Spartans are at 29-5 and 22-11 ATS. In totals betting, the Michigan State Spartans are 16-17, while the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders have a 14-18-1 mark.
This game puts the Michigan State Spartans, most recently No. 1 in the Odds Shark power rankings, up against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, who rate No. 63 in the latest survey.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up Michigan State's No. 22 nationally ranked offense (79.76 points per game) against a Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders defense that sits as the No. 76 at 68.3 PPG. The Michigan State Spartans have been averaging 48.37% from the field, more than the Blue Raiders have managed so far this season (45.06% on average).
Recent Outings Betting Recap
The Blue Raiders grabbed a 55-53 win over the Monarchs on Saturday, behind a 14-point effort from Giddy Potts at Legacy Arena.
The Spartans grabbed a 66-62 win over the Boilermakers on Sunday, behind a 15-point effort from Denzel Valentine at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
- Middle Tennessee is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
- Middle Tennessee is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Middle Tennessee's last 6 games
- Michigan State is 12-2 ATS in its last 14 games
- Michigan State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone OVER in 8 of Michigan State's last 12 games
