No. 9 Michigan State Spartans at No. 19 Michigan Wolverines
Tuesday, 1/17/12, 7:00 PM EST, TV: ESPN
Opening Point Spread: Michigan State -2
Current Betting Line: Michigan State PK
Opening Total: 133
Current Total: 128.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Michigan State looks to bounce back from its first conference loss of the season as it travels to Michigan and will look to snap a two-game losing streak in this series. “I never want to lose to Michigan,” commented Spartans forward Draymond Green. “This year is where it starts.” The senior is leading the team in averaging 15.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. The team is 4-1 in true road games this season and is limiting opponents to 37.9 percent shooting away from East Lansing. Michigan State is 24-37 ATS as a favorite the last two-plus seasons.
The Spartans have registered a 3-2 record against ranked opponents this season, including road wins over Gonzaga and Wisconsin. Green has upped his performance against such foes, averaging 17.2 points versus ranked teams. Head coach Tom Izzo is 18-10 in his career in this in-state rivalry, as the program has captured 18 of the last 23 meetings. Offensively, the Spartans rank second during conference play in shooting 49.8 percent from the floor.
Michigan is 14-4 overall this season and continues to enjoy its best start for the program under current head coach John Beilein. The Wolverines have registered a perfect 11-0 record at home this season, winning their last 12 games inside the Crisler Center. There’s no question that the entire roster knows it must perform at a high level to pick up a victory Tuesday night. “They come out swinging,” commented Wolverines forward Zack Novak. “We’re going to come out swinging too.” The program has tallied two wins over ranked opponents, defeating Memphis and Wisconsin. Michigan is 3-0 ATS as a home underdog of three points or less the last two-plus years.
The Wolverines have two players that average in double figures—led by the play of guard Tim Hardaway Jr., who is averaging 15.7 points per game. Michigan has responded after each loss this season, winning the next game by an average of 14.6 points per game. Offensively, the team is shooting 46.1 percent from the field this year, which would be the top mark for any squad during the Beilein era in Ann Arbor.
Bettors will likely back the Wolverines due to their 22-8 ATS mark in their last 30 overall games, while the Spartans are 0-5 ATS as a road favorite of 6.5 points or less.
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