Maryland (16-3) at Michigan State (16-2)
When: Monday, January 21st, 2019
Where: Breslin Center,
East Lansing, Michigan
Time: 6:30 ET | TV: FS1
Opening Odds: Michigan State -9.5/150
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The top two teams in the Big Ten – the Michigan State Spartans and Maryland Terrapins – will take to the court for first place and ultimately improve their NCAA Tournament resume. The Spartans have won 11 consecutive games after a hard-fought road win at Nebraska last Thursday, while Maryland has reeled-off seven straight after an impressive road win of their own – 75-61 at Ohio State on Friday. The Terrapins received another huge effort from junior guard Anthony Cowan Jr. on Friday, as he’s scored 20 point or more in four straight games and averages 17.9 on the season. Maryland’s big men – Bruno Fernando (14.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, Big Ten-best 2.2 blocks) and Jalen Smith (12.1, 7.1) – are both 6’10” and could pose a problem for a strong Spartans’ front line. Michigan State leads the Big Ten in rebounding margin at +11.6, but Maryland is right behind them at 10.9. With third-leading scorer Joshua Langford out for the last five games, point guard Cassius Winston (18.2 points, Big Ten-best 7.3 assists) has picked up the slack and is coming off a career-best 29 points against Nebraska. 6’9″ forward Nick Ward (16.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 63.9 percent shooting) will be the biggest man in the middle for the Spartans, but has had trouble against taller defenders throughout his career.
Cowan and Fernando are the Terrapins’ leading scorers, but its freshmen guards Eric Ayala and Aaron Wiggins who are surprising contributors to Maryland’s hot start. Ayala is draining a sizzling 48.4 percent from 3-point range and ranks second on the team in assists (2.4 per game). Wiggins plays off the bench and is hitting 41.9 percent from long range and ranks second on the team in steals (17). Maryland shot a season-best (conference games) 58.1 percent from the field against Ohio State and had an overall best 64.7 percent from 3-point range.
Kyle Ahrens is another Spartan that’s been missing in the lineup and is still questionable for Monday’s matchup meaning coach Tom Izzo will continue to shuffle his rotation. Freshman Aaron Henry has stepped into the starting lineup and averaged 8 points and 22 minutes in two starts, including tying his career high with nine points in the win over Nebraska. With Henry in foul trouble last Thursday, Izzo inserted another freshman in Gabe Brown, who has set career highs with 21 minutes and four rebounds in each of the last two games. Michigan State is holding opponents to 65.2 points per game and 36.2 percent shooting from the floor during its 11 game winning streak.
Maryland is one of the best road teams in the country, going 5-1 SU and 6-0 ATS, so they won’t be as intimidated as some when visiting East Lansing. Look for the Terps to control the paint and keep this one close.
Pick: Maryland +9.5
- Terrapins are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Terrapins are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 road games.
- Terrapins are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Terrapins are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 Monday games.
- Terrapins are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Terrapins are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Terrapins are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- Terrapins are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Big Ten.
- Spartans are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 Monday games.
- Spartans are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games.
- Spartans are 9-0 ATS in their last 9 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Spartans are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS win.
- Spartans are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Spartans are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 vs. Big Ten.
- Spartans are 12-2 ATS in their last 14 games following a straight up win.
- Spartans are 14-3 ATS in their last 17 games overall.
- Spartans are 45-20-3 ATS in their last 68 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Spartans are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Under is 5-1 in Terrapins last 6 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Under is 4-1 in Terrapins last 5 Monday games.
- Over is 4-1 in Terrapins last 5 games following a ATS win.
- Over is 7-2 in Terrapins last 9 overall.
- Over is 9-3 in Terrapins last 12 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 13-6-1 in Terrapins last 20 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Over is 4-0 in Spartans last 4 Monday games.
- Under is 5-1 in Spartans last 6 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Spartans last 6 overall.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Spartans last 6 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Spartans last 6 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Spartans last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Spartans last 5 vs. Big Ten.
- Over is 5-2 in Spartans last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
- Under is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings in Michigan St.
- Underdog is 8-3-1 ATS in the last 12 meetings.
- Terrapins are 1-3-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
