The Bucknell Bison look like they need to be a bunch of real, wild bisons to beat the Michigan State Spartans. Can the Bison destroy millions of brackets and the hopes of Michigan State with a win this Thursday? Or will the Spartans continue their march to the top? Register here to make your pick.
Betting Preview for the Bucknell Bison vs Michigan State Spartans College Basketball Championship Tournament Round 1 Game on March 15 2018
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit
When: Thursday, March 15, 00:00 PM ET
Line: Bucknell Bison (n/a) vs Michigan State Spartans (n/a) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast:
Betting on the Bucknell Bison (25-9)
The Bison arrive in the National Tournament acting like they’ve been here before – because they had. They were included in the Big Dance last season, losing a close one to West Virginia in the first round, 86-80. The entire Bison’s starting unit in that game against the Mountaineers are the same players that’ll be paraded by Buffalo this Thursday. Zach Thomas leads the team with 20.3 points per game, while Nana Foulland scores 15.4 per outing. The Bison is going to give a good test for Michigan State’s defense, as Bucknell is 29th in the nation in scoring with 81.1 points per contest. The Bison knock 47.2 percent of their shots from the field down. They make 55.6 percent of their two-point shots are always aggressive in hunting for baskets, which explains partly why they are eighth in the nation with 24.9 free throw attempts per game, making 17.8.
Betting on the Michigan State Spartans (29-4)
Few teams are more well-rounded than the Spartans. Tom Izzo’s squad has plenty of strengths and few tangible holes on its game. Michigan boasts of an offense that has generated 81.0 points per game. The Spartans are shoot 50.4 percent from the field; over 55 percent inside the arc; and 41.3 percent behind it. They share the ball efficiently with a nation-leading 19.3 assists per game with only 1..4 assists to turnover ratio. With a bunch of big dudes like Jaren Jackson and Nick Ward, the Spartans have averaged 40.8 rebounds per contest. Their defense is just as good, allowing foes to only 64.8 points per outing on a poor 36.6 field goal shooting percentage – the best defensively in the nation. Rim protection is a strength of this team as the Spartans are tops in Division I basketball with 7.4 blocks a game. Oh, the Spartans also have do-it-all NBA first-round prospect Miles Bridges (16.9 PPG, 6.9 RPG).
Writer’s Prediction
Michigan State wins, 87-73.
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