The LSU Tigers are playing inspired basketball. Despite not having their head coach in Will Wade in the sidelines so far in the NCAA tournament because of suspension, the Tigers continue to win. Up ahead for them is a tough opponent in the form of the Michigan State Spartans, who just destroyed a Big Ten fellow in the second round. See all future odds for remaining teams in the tournament here.
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Betting Preview for the LSU Tigers vs. Michigan State Spartans Sweet 16 College Basketball Game on March 29, 2019
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington
When: Friday, March 29, 2019
Line: Saturday (+5.5) vs. Michigan State Spartans (-5.5) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: truTV
Betting on the LSU Tigers (28-6 Overall / 16-2 Conference)
LSU is lucky to have Tremont Waters. The sophomore guard hit a driving layup with 1.6 seconds left in regulation to give the Tigers a 69-67 win over the Maryland Terrapins and send LSU to the Sweet 16. Waters finished the game with 12 points to go with five assists and two steals. The Tigers are known pests on the defensive end, mainly because of their ability to force turnovers, and that’s exactly what Waters and company did against Maryland, as the Terps committed 12 turnovers and shot just 33.3 percent from the field. LSU was third nationally back in the regular season with 9.0 steals per game. Their offense and rebounding will have to get better, though, after making just 36.9 percent of their shots and grabbing 34 rebounds to 42 by the Terrapins. It’s also worth noting that LSU is 13-5 SU this season in games decided by no more than six points.
The under is 3-1 in LSU’s last four games, and the Tigers are 19-14-1 against the spread (ATS) on the season overall.
Betting on the Michigan State Spartans (30-6 Overall / 16-4 Conference)
A hot start was all the Spartans seemingly needed to take care of their business in the second round of March Madness. They raced to a 33-19 lead at the half and never looked back since in a dominant 70-50 humbling of the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Saturday. Spartans guard Cassius Winston’s fingerprints were all over once again in another Michigan State win, as he scored 13 points with nine assists, four rebounds, and two steals in 32 minutes of action. Winston has played at least 32 minutes in each of the Spartans’ last three games over a span of six days, and given his usage rate, fatigue could be a factor for him in the upcoming matchup with Waters and the Tigers. As mentioned earlier, LSU had issues on the glass in the second round, and that could be the case again for the Tigers against the Spartans, who pulled down 45 boards to just 19 by Minnesota. In the regular season, the Spartans led the Big Ten with 43.7 rebounds per contest.
The Spartans are 3-1 ATS in their last four games, and are 25-11 ATS for the season, covering 69.4% of the time, which is sixth best in NCAAB Division 1 this year.
Writer’s Prediction
Michigan State wins, 80-74.
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