


NBA
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks
Understanding Public and Money
This pick comes down to Michigan State's dominance on the defensive end of the court. Tom Izzo's squad has held five straight opponents under 70 points, and the Spartans rank second in the Big Ten in points allowed per game. I see this ending up being a 75-70 type of game.
The Hawkeyes are in the process of missing out on the Big Ten Tourney, which begs if the clock is ticking on HC Fran McCaffery. The softness of the Hawkeyes is reflected in season-long defensive numbers bordering on abysmal. To confront that, McCaffery has attempted to slow the pace in recent games, but to no avail; Illinois and Northwestern have just scored convincing double-digit wins, while Iowa has scored only 59 pg in the process. Meanwhile, Tom Izzo can wrap up the Big Ten reg-season crown with another win tonight. The pistons are all firing lately for the Spartans, who have been getting an extra spark from frosh G Jase Richardson, on a stretch of seven straight games scoring in double digits. Play Michigan State
Stunned in the best possible way at Sparty this season as they have clinched at worse a share of the Big Ten regular-season title. Tom Izzo's crew has won five straight, four of those over ranked teams and the other at formerly ranked Illinois. This seems like a mega-trap to me in their final road game and ahead of hosting Michigan in the RS finale on Sunday. It's the home finale for Iowa and maybe the last game in that gym for Hawkeyes coach Fran McCaffrey. Just a lot of weird intangibles that hint at a close game. Seems like MSU never plays well in Iowa City.
The key to Michigan State's late season form has been its defense, which has excelled in slowing down some of the best offenses in the Big Ten during this five-game winning streak. It's also contributed to noticeably lower totals overall. Michigan State games went over 150 in nine of the Spartans first 19 games, but that feat has only been accomplished once in the last 10 games. That's part of the reason the under is 6-12 in Michigan State's conference games and why even Iowa's defensive shortcomings might keep this total from going over.
Sparty is under in 14 of last 18 games and 10 of 11. They are under in 6 straight games by: 13.5, 37, 13.5, 7.5, 14.5, 10.5. Those 6 games have averaged 136 points. Sparty average 71/G in that span and allow just 66 in conference. Iowa can shoot, especially at home, but Izzo's defense is in top form. Will take away deep ball and rotate four 7-footers. Iowa under in 5 of last 7 at home. Those games averaged 152. Four of those games went under by 11.5 or more. Pace shouldn't be a problem for us. Iowa D stinks but Sparty doesn't shoot from 3.