No. 7 Michigan State Spartans at Northwestern Wildcats
Saturday, 1/14/12, 3:00 PM EST, TV: N/A
Opening Point Spread: Michigan State -4.5
Current Betting Line: Michigan State -5
Opening Total: 136.5
Current Total: 136
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Michigan State takes its 4-0 Big Ten Conference record on the road and plays Northwestern inside Welsh-Ryan Arena Saturday afternoon. The Spartans have won four consecutive games in this series and rides in with a 15-game win streak. “It’s been a special team already because they’ve done what we’ve asked them to do,” commented Spartans head coach Tom Izzo. The team is 4-0 in road games this year and is led by senior forward Draymond Green offensively, averaging 15.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Michigan State is 1-3 ATS as a road favorite of 3.5 to 6 points the last two-plus years.
The Spartans have outscored their opponents by 20.7 points per game during their win streak, with 12 of the 15 victories coming by double digits. Michigan State ranks 35th in the nation in allowing just 59.6 points, which ranks third in the Big Ten. Izzo has watched his squad win 26 of 29 meetings with Saturday’s opponent while on the sidelines, including victories in 16 of the last 17. Offensively, the team is scoring 76.5 points per game during conference play, which leads all schools.
Northwestern looks to bounce back from consecutive narrow losses and will be playing its fourth ranked opponent in six games. The Wildcats dropped a 66-64 overtime decision versus the Michigan Wolverines as seven-point road underdogs last time out. Another close defeat may be in the cards in this matchup, as the team lost both meetings a year ago by a combined seven points. Offensively, the team is led by the scoring of forwards Drew Crawford and John Shurna, averaging 17.4 and 18.9 points per game respectively. Northwestern is 2-2 ATS as an underdog this year.
The Wildcats really live and die beyond the arc, leading the Big Ten and 10th nationally in averaging 8.8 three-point makes per game. Northwestern is ranked 28th in RPI and has already played four teams in the top 10 in the rankings. The team is also very good in taking care of the basketball, ranking second in the nation with a 1.57 assist-to-turnover ratio. Shurna and Crawford take up two of the top three spots in scoring for the conference.
Bettors will likely back the Wildcats due to their 4-1 ATS mark on Saturdays, while the Spartans are 0-4 ATS as a road favorite of 6.5 points or less.
Don’t miss out on a winning season and let the college basketball handicappers at Maddux Sports line your pockets with cash. Long term packages are available now!
