Penn State vs Michigan State Game Prediction
by Nick Meyer
Just two more wins is all that stands between the Michigan State Spartans and yet another Big Ten title, although this one would be split between Ohio State and perhaps Purdue.
The Spartans still have to play in-state rival Michigan at home this weekend, but the Wolverines have been disappointing and aren't a huge threat.
MSU will first have to deal with the Penn State Nittany Lions in East Lansing tonight, however, as the Lions look to play spoiler and try to salvage something from a highly disappointing 2009-2010 college basketball campaign.
Playing at home in front of a raucous crowd, the MSU Spartans are a big-time college basketball betting favorite tonight at the Breslin Center. But can they cover the spread against a team that has surprisingly given them a bit of trouble in recent years?
Penn State Nittany Lions (11-17 SU, 12-13 ATS) at Michigan State Spartans (22-7 SU, 11-16 ATS)
7 p.m. ET
College Basketball Betting Line: MSU favored at -13.
The Spartans haven't had a great year by the standards, but it's a testament to coach Tom Izzo and their program that they are still in the running for a Big Ten title and a 2-4 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The Spartans will need to finish the season out strong both in the last two games and in the Big Ten Tournament to get a 2 or a 3 seed, but they have a great shot to go far in the tournament.
Tonight, with the league title on the line and the crowd behind them plus a big-time advantage at most spots on the floor, MSU should be ready to go.
Kalin Lucas is still not 100% from an ankle injury but he runs the offense well and finds spot-up shooters and athletes like Chris Allen and Durrell Summers.
Penn State counters with the pint-sized but tough, explosive combo guard Talor Battle who is capable of taking over any game.
Too bad for Penn State that he has been their only guy in double figures scoring for much of the year.
PSU has some decent athletes to at least match up a bit with State on that level, however, and they have a bit of a size advantage down low.
PSU is also a surprising 9-2 ATS on the road according to the college basketball betting odds, while MSU is just 5-9 at home ATS.
These numbers seem to make a college basketball betting pick on Penn State a sure thing, but the x-factor is MSU's desire to get this game over with quickly and to ratchet up their level of focus going into the league tournament.
MSU could explode and blow out PSU, but with Battle continuing to play well and the Nittany Lions' size down low against the undersized MSU front line, Penn State is still a good bet to at least keep this one close and/or close the gap late in the game to cover the NCAA basketball betting spread.
