NFL Tickets
TV Schedule: Saturday, Jan. 23, 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Arena: Breslin Center, East Lansing, MI
Line: Michigan State (-3.5)
No elite team in college basketball has been on the type of disappointing slide the Michigan State Spartans are enduring right now.
After winning their opening 13 games to go undefeated in nonconference play, the Spartans have lost four of their last seven, including their last three games. Next up for Michigan State is a difficult matchup against the No. 7 Maryland Terrapins, who have just one loss in conference play.
The Terrapins currently sit at 17-2 with losses to the North Carolina Tar Heels and Michigan Wolverines, but have yet to beat an “elite” opponent this season. Their best wins have come against teams like the Connecticut Huskies, Georgetown Hoyas and Rhode Island Rams, who are all struggling to contend for a 2016 NCAA tournament berth. A win over Michigan State would silence Maryland’s critics and more importantly, keep the Terrapins above the crowded middle of the Big 10 standings.
That being said, Maryland’s lack of tests against top opposition will give Michigan State a major advantage, especially at home. Even in wins, the Terrapins have struggled on the road this season, whereas the Spartans have been absolutely dominant at home outside of their loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Both of these teams boast fantastic defenses that are complemented by veteran offenses that know how to win games, meaning we will get a defense-first game that starts out cautiously and picks up in the second half. Although I expect both of these teams to be the major contenders for the Big 10 regular season title by the end of the season, the Spartans should be able to do enough to get it done at home and break out of their losing ways against a top-10 team.
Prediction: Michigan State 73, Maryland 70
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