The Final Four table is all set following the Duke Blue Devils’ conquest of a game Gonzaga Bulldogs team in the Elite Eight round. Will the Blue Devils be the ones to put a stop on the stubborn Michigan State Spartans, who refuse to go away? Read on below for more about this highly intriguing matchup. You can also click here for our preview of the other National Semifinal showdown between No. 1 Kentucky and No. 1 Wisconsin.
[sc:MarchMadness ]March Madness No. 7 Michigan State Spartans vs No. 1 Duke Blue Devils Preview
Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
When: Saturday, April 4, 6:09 PM ET
Line: Michigan State Spartans (+5) vs. Duke Blue Devils (-5) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
Betting on the Michigan State Spartans
Nobody leave, the Sparty isn’t over. Michigan State’s exhilarating run in this March Madness continues, thanks to a 76-70 overtime victory over Louisville on Sunday. With the victory, Tom Izzo improved to 13-9 when up against a higher seed in the National Tournament. Izzo’s penchant for beating such teams, however, will be in for another acid test when Michigan State faces Duke in the National Semifinal.
[sc:NCAAB240banner ]The Spartans’ win over Louisville brings into attention their ability to put up points despite facing an elite defense. Louisville, which began the day allowing just 59.8 points per game, failed to lock down Michigan State’s dynamic duo of Travis Trice and Denzel Valentine. Trice scored 17 points, including three three-pointers, against Louisville. Valentine, meanwhile, chipped in 15 points. Expect the two to have a much easier time scoring against Duke’s more porous defense, one that let opposing teams convert 38.9 percent of their two-point jumpers (332nd in the nation) and 31.4 percent on three-point attempts (40th).
That being said, it would be detrimental for Michigan State if it fails to get ample scoring support from its role players versus Duke. Getting 14 points off the bench from Bryn Forbes against Louisville, however, is a step towards the right direction for the Spartans, who averages 71.9 points per game.
Michigan State is 4-2 ATS in its last six games as an underdog.
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Betting on the Duke Blue Devils
Who needs experience when you’re team is oozing with young talent? Mike Krzyzewski probably has that to think about when his freshman-laden Duke team squeezed past the Gonzaga Bulldogs 66-52 on Sunday to gain a Final Four berth.
Duke, which has covered the spread in each of its last four games, banked on the foursome of Justise Winslow, Tyus Jones, Quinn Cook, and Matt Jones to propel the Blue Devils to victory. Winslow and Jones combined for six threes and finished with 16 points apiece. Jones and Cook, meanwhile, contributed 15 and 10 points, respectively. While all these players have had good performances, the same can’t be said about Jahlil Okafor who scored just nine points on 4-of-10 shooting.
Okafor hasn’t scored in double-digits in two straight games, producing just six points in Duke’s 63-57 win over Utah in the Sweet 16 round. Okafor, however, might be due for a big bounce back game against Michigan State’s thin frontcourt. Against Louisville, the Spartans struggled to contain Cards big man Montrezl Harrell, who finished the contest with 16 points (6-12 FG, 4-9 FT).
But if Okafor’s rut extends into the Final Four round, Duke can still always go for its outside shooters to muster up points. Duke, which made eight threes against Gonzaga, is averaging close to seven three-pointers per game over its last four games.
Writer’s Prediction
Duke (-5) wins, 72-65.
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