Michigan State vs. Nebraska Odds
| Michigan State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -110 | 145.5 -110o / -110u | -170 |
| Nebraska Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -110 | 145.5 -110o / -110u | +140 |
Two teams with two of the more disappointing results in all of college basketball this week face off in Lincoln, Nebraska on Sunday when the Nebraska Cornhuskers host the Michigan State Spartans.
Nebraska opened the year with seven straight wins before falling victim to Creighton last weekend and then blowing a 15-point halftime lead to Minnesota on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Michigan State has fallen from a top-five team in the country in the preseason to entirely out of the AP Poll.
Both teams desperately need to avoid starting the Big Ten season 0-2 in conference play. Michigan State has an elite defense, which should show up in this game. However, the Spartans will need to rely on Tyson Walker if they want to get anything going on the offensive end.
Nebraska's strength will go against Michigan State's strength as the Cornhuskers are much better on offense than defense. Keisei Tominaga is one of the most exciting players in the country and Rienk Mast could have has way down low.
Michigan State Spartans
So much has changed for Tom Izzo and the Spartans since last season when they beat Marquette and advanced to the Sweet 16. Gone is Joey Hauser, which apparently means gone is all of the shooting on this team.
Michigan State finished third in the country in 3-point shooting last season, making 39% of their attempts from beyond the arc. This season, that's dropped all the way down to 27%, which ranks 326th in the country. To make matters worse, Nebraska defends the 3 incredibly well and is holding their opponents to just 28% shooting from beyond the arc.
Last year in this game, Walker and Jaden Akins combined to shoot 8-for-13 from 3, helping Michigan State overcome a 12-point halftime deficit to win the game by 13. They will need to get hot again for the Spartans to secure a win this year.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Michigan State's defense ranks 15th in the country in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency, but there are still some individual matchups that Nebraska can capitalize on.
Mast opened the year with seven consecutive games in double figures. The Cornhuskers' center has struggled in his past two games, but facing Michigan State's Mady Sissoko could be just what he needs to get right.
Izzo started two centers against Wisconsin, which led to yet another slow start from the Spartans. If Nebraska can get out to an early lead, it has to like its chances to bounce back and get a big home victory here.
Michigan State vs. Nebraska
Betting Pick & Prediction
KenPom sets this line as just a one-point spread and projects a Michigan State victory. We are on the opposite side here as Michigan State's struggles have been so pronounced that it's hard to see the Spartans correcting their issues on the road. Back the home team to come away with the cover and the win.
