Michigan has won six in row and are 12-0 SU at home but only 6-6 ATS. During their six-game win streak, the Wolverines have won by four points, or less, in each of those conference games. Michigan State doesn’t create many turnovers, but the Spartans has very struggled with protecting the ball for the entire season. The Wolverines find ways to win but Michigan State has the much better defense, especially on both sides of the boards, and the Wolverines offense always seems to have difficulty pulling away easily due to their inability to protect the ball.

A lot of this is about matchups for me as Michigan State does have a variety of forwards to throw at Michigan's 1-2 punch of 7-footers with Danny Wolff and Vlad Goldin. I think there will be a feeling-out period between Tom Izzo and Dusty May before halftime adjustments and foul trouble could really open up the scoring after halftime. The under has been profitable for Sparty recently (6-1 in the last 7) but given the competitiveness we're expecting and the free throws that could come with it we're going to keep it to a 1H play.

I win either way here. Will fully admit my Spartans are exponentially better than I expected. One of Tom Izzo's better coaching jobs in his HOF career, and Jase Richardson is going to be a good NBA player down the road. But they still aren't that talented overall. And will be completely undersized against Michigan's towers of 7-footers Danny Wolf and Vladislav Goldin. Think most would admit U-M is exponentially better than expected as well. This kind of college basketball betting I like. Decent number and two teams I know. Forget models. We lose this, fine. What I don't like is models and me by extension getting Chris Rock-ed in the face continually on teams I don't know. Might have to remedy that ...

Even Gretchen Whitmer will be following this one! While Michigan State has cooled a bit (3-3 the last six after an 18-2 start), Michigan is rolling into Fritz Crisler Arena tonight. Indeed, Tom Izzo might be catching the Wolverines at the wrong time, as after a brief pause in January, Dusty May has Michigan winning again, now six in a row into Friday. The combo spectacle of seven-foot transfers Danny Wolf and Vladislav Goldin, in a unique screen-and-roll tandem, are causing fits for opposing defenders, while among other transfers are three other DD scorers, making it five of those for May. Fundamental issues for Michigan State involve subpar three-point shooting, only registering at 29%. Play Michigan