The No. 6 Michigan State Spartans are on top of the Big Ten standings, but they can’t be too complacent, especially with the quality of competition in the conference. Among them are the Iowa Hawkeyes, who will be on ambush mode this coming Thursday at home against the Spartans. Will the Spartans take care of their business on the road? Or will the Hawkeyes take down a national title contender?
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Betting Preview for the Michigan State Spartans vs. Iowa Hawkeyes College Basketball Game on January 24, 2019
Where: Carver Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City
When: Thursday, January 24, 2019, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Michigan State Spartans (odds) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (odds) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: FS1
Betting on the Michigan State Spartans (16-2 Overall / 7-0 Conference)
As of this writing, the Spartans are rolling. They are on an 11-game winning streak heading into a matchup with No. 19 Maryland Terrapins at home on Monday. In any case, the Spartans are expected to be a handful for Iowa this coming Thursday. The Spartans are feeding off the greatness of guard Cassius Winston, arguably the best in the nation in his position. The junior guard exploded for 29 points on 9-for-15 shots with six assists and three rebounds in a 70-64 home win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers last Thursday. Over the Spartans’ last five games, Winston has scored at least 23 points in three outings, including a 25-point performance in a road win over No. 14 Ohio State Buckeyes. As a team, Michigan State is eighth in the nation with 84.7 points per game, while allowing 66.7.
On the road so far this season Michigan State is 5-2 straight up (SU) and 6-2 against the spread (ATS), going 5-0 ATS in their last five away from home.
Betting on the Iowa Hawkeyes (16-3 Overall / 5-3 Conference)
Iowa is on an unbeaten run itself. Pending a home matchup with the Illinois Fighting Illini this Sunday, the Hawkeyes are riding a four-game unbeaten streak. In their most recent outing, the Hawkeyes trounced the Penn State Nittany Lions on the road, 89-82. Five players scored in double figures for the Hawkeyes in that game. Leading them all is Luka Garza, who dropped 22 points to go with 12 rebounds. The Hawkeyes scored that win without leading scorer Tyler Cook, who’s missed Iowa’s last two road games due to a knee issue. He was close to playing in the Penn State game, but was eventually ruled out of it. That said, it’s a sign that his close to returning to action, perhaps as soon as the matchup with the Fighting Illini at home. Cook is averaging 17.1 points per game, while Garza is putting up 13.5 per contest.
The Hawkeyes, who are 19th in the nation with 82.1 points per game, are 13-1 SU and 7-7 ATS.
Writer’s Prediction
Michigan State wins, 77-71.
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