NCAA Prediction: Michigan State Spartans vs Michigan Wolverines
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
by Joe Rodriguez
The Michigan State Spartans and Michigan Wolverines rivalry had turned one-sided until the Wolverines broke through last season. Michigan had lost eight of 10 entering last year, but swept the season series against the Spartans for the first time since winning five straight from 1996-98.
Now, the 19th-ranked Wolverines will try to make it three in a row against No. 9 Michigan State on Tuesday at Crisler Center, where both teams enter off tough road losses.
The Spartans snapped their 15-game win streak in an 81-74 loss at Northwestern, while Michigan fell 75-59 at Iowa. Michigan has won three of the last five in the series at Crisler.
- Michigan State Spartans @ Michigan Wolverines
When: 7:00 PM ET, Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Where: Crisler Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN3
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SBG Global Sportsbook currently have the Spartans listed as 1-point favorites versus the Wolverines.
Michigan State Spartans (15-2): Coach Tom Izzo tried to turn the Northwestern defeat into a teaching moment for his freshmen -- that life on the road in Big Ten play can and will be difficult. That's always the case against the Wolverines, who beat the Spartans 70-63 in Ann Arbor last season. In that contest, Michigan State shot just 32.8 percent from the field and lost despite holding a 44-25 rebounding advantage. The Spartans figure to have an edge inside against the undersized Wolverines, but will need to hit jump shots against John Beilein's 1-3-1 zone to have a chance.
Michigan Wolverines (14-4): It can be argued that Michigan has more at stake in this year's matchup with the Spartans than any other meeting since 1998. That year marked the last time in which both teams were ranked when they played. In addition, Michigan is trying to avoid losing consecutive games for the first time while keeping pace with the Spartans and Illinois, who are both atop the conference at 4-1. Michigan took care of the basketball in the loss to the Hawkeyes but couldn't establish a rhythm offensively. The Wolverines shot 38 percent — including an 8-of-31 effort from 3-point range — and gave up too many baskets inside.
1. Beilein is 2-4 against the Spartans since taking over as Michigan’s head coach in 2007.
2. Michigan State’s 15-game win streak was its longest since 1998-99, when it won 22 in a row.
3. The Wolverines lead the all-time series 93-74.
BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Spartans 68, Wolverines 64.
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