Michigan State Spartans vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers Preview
Where: Verizon Center— Washington, District of Columbia
When: Friday, March 10, 2017, 2:00 PM ET
Line: Michigan State Spartans (-1) vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers (+1) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
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Betting on the Michigan State Spartans (19-13, 10-8 Big Ten)
Point Spread: -1
The Spartans are already wearing their dancing shoes. They eased through Penn State, 78-51, in the second round of the Big Ten tournament, and are now in a collision course with fourth-seeded Minnesota in the quarterfinals.
Miles Bridges and Nick Ward finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and two blocks apiece against the Nittany Lions, while fellow freshman Josh Langford pitched in 13 points of his own. Michigan State was locked on defensively, too, as the team forced Penn State to shoot below 30 percent overall, including 26.7% from down town.
In two meetings this season, the Spartans got the better of the Golden Gophers in both times, especially in the latest one—a 65-47 home victory on Jan. 11. The first encounter needed an extra period before Michigan State finally prevailed, 75-74. The Spartans can certainly make it three victories in a row against Minnesota.
Betting on the Minnesota Golden Gophers (23-8, 11-7 Big Ten)
Point Spread: +1
Minnesota enters as the fourth seed here, and is hoping to add a Big Ten tournament championship in the program’s best season since 1996-97.
The Golden Gophers carry the fourth-highest scoring offense in their conference, averaging at least 75 points per game. This group is led by none other than junior point guard Nate Mason, who was recently named in the All-Big Ten First Team. He is posting 15.5 points and 5.1 assists a game, both team-highs.
Fellow junior Reggie Lynch is the defensive anchor for Minnesota’s defense. He set a program-best 106 blocked shots this season, which broke the previous record held by Randy Breuer (87) in the early 1980s. Lynch is second in the nation in blocks per game (3.5).
Minny is 8-2 SU and 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games overall.
Writer’s Prediction
Minny (+1) wins a thriller, 80-77.
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