Michigan State vs. Oakland: College Basketball Game Preview, Prediction, TV Schedule

By Taylor Sturm
Denzel Valentine
Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

TV Schedule: Tuesday, Dec. 22, 7:00 p.m. ET, ESPNU

Arena: The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, MI

Line: Michigan State (-8)

 

The undefeated Michigan State Spartans head into the holiday season ranked No. 1 in college basketball, but will be without their leading scorer and arguably the best player in the country, Denzel Valentine, as they face the Oakland Golden Grizzlies on Tuesday night.

Oakland has had a solid start to the 2015-16 season, winning seven out of 10 total games including a win on the road over the Washington Huskies. They will likely not make the 2016 NCAA tournament as an at-large team unless they pull off the improbable upset over Michigan State, but the Golden Grizzlies will feel confident that they can compete with the likes of the Valparaiso Crusaders and Milwaukee Panthers at the top of the Horizon League and potentially win the conference tournament.

Although Oakland will never be facing the Spartans at a more vulnerable time, nothing the Golden Grizzlies have done all season implies that they will be able to pull off the upset. Oakland’s elite offense will find itself struggling against the Spartans’ stout defense and will rely on 3-point shooting from Max Hooper and Kahlil Felder, among others.

Expect Michigan State to win this one easily behind their defense and the play of Bryn Forbes, Matt Costello and Deyonta Harris. The Spartans will not finish the season undefeated, but they are not losing anytime soon and will likely not even be challenged until mid-January. The Spartans are deservedly ranked No. 1 in the country; expect things to stay that way for a while.

Prediction: Michigan State 72, Oakland 60

Taylor Sturm is a Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TSturmRS, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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