The Michigan State Spartans need a big win to boost their chances of getting invited to the National Tournament. An opportunity to get a Quadrant 1 win comes to them this Saturday when they take on the No. 15 Iowa Hawkeyes at home. The Hawkeyes won the first meeting between these two teams this season.
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Betting Preview for the Iowa Hawkeyes vs Michigan State Spartans NCAA College Basketball Game on February 13 2021
Where: Breslin Center, East Lansing, MI
When: Saturday, February 13, 2021, 2:30 PM ET
Line: Iowa Hawkeyes (odds) vs. Michigan State Spartans (odds) – view all 2021 NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: FOX
Betting on the Iowa Hawkeyes (odds)
Record: 13-6 Overall / 7-5 Conference
There’s something wrong with the Hawkeyes, who are suddenly struggling with their shot. The Hawkeyes lost to the Indiana Hoosiers on the road on Feb. 7 (67-65) and to the Ohio State Buckeyes (89-85) at home last Feb. 4. Although they scored a ton of points in the Ohio State game, the Hawkeyes shot only 44.1 percent from the field then they posted a horrible 37.3 percent shooting in the loss to Indiana. It was clear from the very beginning that Iowa will go as far as where Luka Garza takes them, so when he struggles, the team feels the impact. That was the case in the last two games, as Garza averaged just 17.0 points on 44.4 percent shooting in that stretch — worse than his season’s numbers of 25.5 points per game on 58.3 field goal percentage. But watch out for Garza to recapture his scary form, as he’ll meet the Spartans again. He had 27 points on 8-of-16 shooting in the Hawkeyes’ 84-78 win over Michigan State on Feb. 2
Iowa will be facing the Rutgers Scarlet Knights first this Wednesday before the Michigan State game.
Iowa is 5-5 against the spread in its last 10 road games
Betting on the Michigan State Spartans (odds)
Record: 10-7 Overall / 4-7 Conference
The Spartans are on a groove right now, as they have won both of their last two games, beating the Nebraska Cornhuskers (66-56) and the Penn State Nittany Lions (60-58) in games at East Lansing on Feb. 6 and Feb. 9, respectively. Aaron Henry did the heavy-lifting for the Spartans in the Penn State game, scoring 20 points and grabbing four rebounds, while Joey Hauser had 11 points off the bench. Michigan State limited Penn State to only 34.5 percent shooting from the field. The Spartans have allowed their last two opponents to shoot no better than 36.0 percent from the floor. That’s the kind of defensive tenacity they have to show in the rematch against Iowa. The Spartans are particularly effective in taking away their opponents’ outside shooting. Among all teams in the Big Ten, the Spartans are tops with teams shooting just 29.4 percent from deep against them in conference games.
The under is 4-0 in Michigan State’s last four home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Iowa wins, 78-70.
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