Indiana Hoosiers at Michigan State Spartans Game Preview, Odds, Picks & Predictions
Indiana leads the Big Ten in scoring defense and field-goal percentage defense so the Hoosiers will look to make life difficult for a Michigan State team that ranks in the middle of the conference in many offensive categories.
A concern for the Hoosiers is that they are 2-5 on the road although the Hoosiers are 2-2 against ranked opponents. Even with a recent home loss to Wisconsin, 17th-ranked Michigan State is 9-2 at home.
Michigan State (+1800) has the fifth-best odds among Big Ten teams to reach the Final Four. Indiana checks in at +2800 according to the odds to win March Madness.
Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis has +3800 odds to be named the national player of the year.
Indiana Hoosiers at Michigan State Spartans
Game: Indiana (16-7) at Michigan State (17-6)
Location: Breslin Center
Day/Time: Saturday, February 12, 3:30 p.m. ET
Television: FOX
Indiana Hit with Wholesale Suspensions
Indiana opened a few eyes with its win against Purdue last month and another score in an Indiana basketball game also caught more than a few people by surprise.
Indiana managed just 51 points in its eight-point loss at Northwestern. However, when it is factored in that starters Xavier Johnson and Parker Stewart as well as reserves Tamar Bates, Michael Durr, and Khristian Lander being suspended, the result is easier to comprehend.
The suspensions as well as Rob Phinisee continued absence due to a foot injury left Indiana without five of the players averaging at least 10 minutes per game. The Hoosiers were without the players who contribute 38% of its offense, 26% of its rebounding, and 55% of its assists for the game.
Every indication is that the five suspended players will be back for Michigan State.
IU coach Mike Woodson announced Tamar Bates, Michael Durr, Xavier Johnson, Khristian Lander and Parker Stewart are back from a one-game suspension. https://t.co/HX6eGaWG4H
— IndyStar (@indystar) February 11, 2022
Indiana coach Mike Woodson was noncommittal about his plans on the starting lineup and rotation going into the game.
“I’ll make a decision in terms of where I go with our starting lineup, but I thought yesterday’s practice was a good practice considering what had happened at Northwestern because I just wasn’t very pleased,” Woodson said. “I thought coming back guys were back on the floor working and I thought we had a very productive practice.”
Indiana has covered against the college basketball spreads in four of its last six games against Michigan State.
Michigan State Hoping To Get Defensive
It is pretty easy to figure out the key to success for the Michigan State Spartans.
When Michigan State has held opponents under 40% shooting, the Spartans are 9-1 but the Spartans are 2-4 when the opposition makes at least 50% of its shots.
Michigan State allowed Rutgers to connect on 61.5% of its field-goal attempts in a stunning 21-point loss and three days later Wisconsin, which ranks last in the Big Ten in field-goal percentage, made 47.2% of its shots as the Spartans lost their second straight game.
Michigan State which is still third in the Big Ten in field-goal percentage despite its recent defensive shortcomings will look to get back to disrupting opposing offenses when Indiana comes to East Lansing.
Michigan State has won five of the last meetings against Indiana when playing at home. The lone loss came in 2019 when the Hoosiers scored 79 points in an overtime win. Indiana has been held in the 50s in three of the losses and that is what Michigan State will try to accomplish on Saturday.
Michigan State has covered against the Las Vegas odds in just three of its last nine games.
Head-to-Head
Michigan State won both meetings in 2021 and covered against the spread in each of those games including a seven-point win at Indiana as a seven-point underdog.
The Spartans have won five of the last six games when playing host to Indiana with the lone win for the Hoosiers coming in 2020. Four of those six games have finished under the total.
The last six games between the teams have been decided by seven points or less.
Prediction
Four of the last six games between Michigan State and Indiana have been decided by four points or less so the 4-point line immediately could jump out to those who bet online.
Indiana has won just two of its last 20 games at Michigan State and has only two road wins this season.
Michigan State has covered in just one of its last seven games so picking the Spartans to win by a couple of points seems like a reasonable way to proceed.
