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Will Michigan Find Jump-Start To Season?

The Michigan Wolverines were a No. 1 seed in last year’s NCAA Tournament. They won the Big Ten championship and came within one 3-point shot of making the Final Four.

They narrowly lost to UCLA in the Elite Eight. They came into this season ranked in the top five and predicted to contend for the Final Four. It just hasn’t worked out that way for head coach Juwan Howard.

Can Michigan Find A Jump-Start To Its Season?
Rich Schultz/Getty Images/AFP

Michigan is in urgent need of a big win to change its season and its outlook for March. Standing in the way is rival Michigan State, which will be angry entering this game for reasons which are obvious.

Let’s take a look at the college basketball odds here and see what’s the better side for your college basketball picks. The Spartans come in as four-point favorites with the total set at 138.

  • Game: Michigan (10-7) at Michigan State (15-4)
  • Location: Breslin Center – East Lansing, MI
  • Day/Time: Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET
  • Television: CBS

Michigan Wolverines at Michigan State Spartans

Michigan needs to light a fire and get hot

The Michigan Wolverines have simply not been able to put the pieces together this season. They lost Franz Wagner to the NBA and the Orlando Magic, but they still had a lot of other veteran players from last year’s Elite Eight team.

Michigan was supposed to be a top-tier contender in college basketball, but the Wolverines’ season has not been able to get off the ground, at least not yet.

The Wolverines have lost to Rutgers, Central Florida and Minnesota. They were blown out by a North Carolina team which isn’t very good this year. They have a good win over San Diego State, and they have beaten Indiana as well, but that’s about it.

The Wolverines’ Big Ten wins have largely come against the weakest teams in the conference. Right now, they would be out of the NCAA Tournament.

They need several good wins to quality and be a factor for March Madness odds and could get off to a great start in that pursuit by winning this game at Michigan State.

Michigan didn’t play especially well in its most recent game against Northwestern, but the Wolverines rallied late to overcome a seven-point deficit.

Maybe that escape can fuel a resurgence for the Wolverines, beginning with this game on Saturday.

Michigan State is extremely unpredictable and needs a steady hand

The Michigan State Spartans are 15-4, but they are not a steady team right now. The Spartans have lost two of their last three games, and those two losses were both disappointing.

They lost to Northwestern at home, which simply shouldn’t happen to a team of MSU’s caliber. Then the Spartans – after winning at Wisconsin – couldn’t beat an Illinois team which was missing its two best players, Kofi Cockburn and Andre Curbelo.

The Spartans turn the ball over a lot. That has been their big problem this season. The lack of competent ballhandling has undermined this team and stripped it of its consistency.

The Spartans need to restore order against Michigan in order to avoid losing a second straight game and three out of four.

Will Michigan find some magic against mercurial Michigan State?

The Wolverines need a win, but that doesn’t mean they’ll get a win. Michigan State is playing at home and is trying to avoid back-to-back losses. The Spartans deserve the benefit of the doubt and the Wolverines do not. Take Michigan State in the sportsbook.

Parlay: Michigan State moneyline and the under

Pick: Michigan State moneyline

Pick: Under 138

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