Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Wolverines Betting Preview

The Michigan Wolverines host the Michigan State Spartans on Thursday night in a much-anticipated showdown in the Big Ten Conference. There is a lot on the line for both teams in this matchup, and these rivals will also meet up again on Sunday.

Michigan State is looking to secure an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament, and a win in this game would accomplish that. The Spartans enter this game with an overall record of 14-10, but they have gone just 8-10 so far in conference games.

Michigan can clinch the outright Big Ten Championship with just one win in the next two games, but the Wolverines want more. Michigan suffered a blowout loss to Illinois on Tuesday night, but they are still an impressive 18-2 this season.

The Michigan Wolverines are 12-point favorites over the Michigan State Spartans on Thursday night. 

Scoring For Spartans An Issue

If Michigan State is going to find a way to pull off this upset, then they are going to have to find a way to get more offense. The Spartans are averaging just 70 points per game, and they don’t shoot the ball very well from deep.

Aaron Henry leads the team with 15.4 points and 3.6 assists per game, and the Spartans need him to carry them on a late-season run. Joey Hauser and Joshua Langford are the only other Michigan State players averaging in double-figures, and they will play a key role in this one.

Michigan State still remains one of the most physical teams in the country, and they will look to push around their rivals on Thursday night. 

Michigan Must Defend

The Michigan Wolverines gave up 76 points to the Illinois Fighting Illini on Thursday night, but they are allowing just 65 points per game. Few teams are as good defensively as Michigan, and they will look to take control of the game on that end of the floor.

Michigan really struggled to shoot the basketball in the loss on Tuesday, but this is a team that is averaging nearly 78 points per game. Freshman center Hunter Dickinson leads the team with 14.4 points per game, but this team has weapons.

The biggest key for Michigan on Thursday night will be matching the physical play from Michigan State and putting the bad loss on Tuesday night behind them. 

Spartans Keep it Close

Michigan is going to come into this game fired up after being blown out by Illinois on Tuesday night. That could spell bad news for the Spartans, but Michigan State will be ready to respond.

There is no doubt that Michigan is the much better team on paper, but rivalry games are always unpredictable, and this one will be no different. Michigan State will look to use the same blueprint that Illinois used earlier in the week, and it will be up to Michigan to respond.

The Wolverines will bounce back with a win on Thursday night, but it won’t be in blowout fashion. Take the 12 points and bet on the Michigan State Spartans in this Big Ten Conference showdown.

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