No. 22 Michigan Wolverines at No. 10 Michigan State Spartans
Sunday, 2/5/12, 1:00 PM EST, TV: CBS
Opening Point Spread: Michigan State -8.5
Current Betting Line: Michigan State -7
Opening Total: 126
Current Total: 125.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Michigan has alternated wins and losses over its past seven games, coming off a 68-56 win over the Indiana Hoosiers as four-point home favorites. The Wolverines have also managed to go “under” the total in seven of their last eight games. It’s important to note that the program has won three straight games in this particular series for the first time since 1996-98, which includes a 60-59 win as one-point home underdogs on Jan. 17. Michigan is 27-10 ATS as an underdog the past two-plus seasons.
The Wolverines have two starters that average in double figures, with junior guard Tim Hardaway Jr. leading the way in scoring 15.1 points per game. Michigan is 7-3 in Big Ten Conference play, which had the team tied for second with Wisconsin, but that program dropped a close contest against Ohio State. The team has responded after each defeat this season, winning the next game by an average of 9.8 points per game. Michigan is 7-5 against teams ranked among the top 50 in RPI.
Michigan State will look to move past a 42-41 loss against the Illinois Fighting Illini as 1.5-point road favorites, with everyone’s focus being on Draymond Green’s sprained left knee. “They hate us, and we hate them,” commented Green this week. He leads the team in averaging 14.9 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, while also posting a Big Ten-best 11 double-doubles during the year. The program is 3-3 against ranked opponents this season and comes in with a 14-game home winning streak. Michigan State is 33-8 ATS as a home favorite of 6.5 to 9 points.
The Spartans are a dominating 118-20 inside the Breslin Center in conference play under head coach Tom Izzo. Michigan State prides itself on defense and toughness, ranking second in the conference in allowing opponents to shoot just 29.2 percent from beyond the arc. Overall, the team is limiting opponents to just 59.4 points per game, while possessing a 14.8-point scoring margin. The Spartans finished the first meeting with a 31-18 edge in rebounding, but allowed the Wolverines to shoot 51.1 percent from the floor.
Bettors will likely back the Wolverines due to their 18-5 ATS mark versus conference foes, while the Spartans are 1-5 ATS on Sundays.
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