Michigan State (22-5) at Michigan (24-3)
When: Sunday, February 24th, 2019
Where: Crisler Center,
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Time: 3:45 ET | TV: CBS
Opening Odds: Michigan -3/130
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There’s a logjam atop the Big Ten Conference standings with three teams tied at 13-3, and two of those teams will meet Sunday afternoon to see who can break that tie. The Michigan State Spartans look to end a three-game losing streak against their instate rivals the Michigan Wolverines when the teams take the court in front of a national TV audience on CBS. The Spartans have answered a three-game losing streak – losing two of those as double-digit favorites – with four consecutive victories including a 71-60 home win over Rutgers on Wednesday. Michigan State was actually down 11 points in the second half to the lowly Scarlet Knights before rallying and setting up a first-place matchup with the Wolverines. Seventh-ranked Michigan has won 22-straight home contests and are coming off a 69-60 road win at Minnesota and have won the last three meetings with the Spartans by an average of 16.6 points.
Michigan State played their first game without second-leading scorer Nick Ward on Wednesday after the foward suffered a hairline fracture to his left hand in the 62-44 victory against Ohio State. Cassius Winston led all scorers with 28 points, while dishing out eight assists Rutgers and Xavier Tillman added a career-high 19 points and 10 rebounds in place of Ward. It was Tillman’s third double-double of the season as Michigan State improved to 9-0 all-time against Rutgers. Kyle Ahrens was held scoreless and has been dealing with a sore back making him questionable for Sunday.
Michigan’s defense continues to carry the team, ranking third in the nation in points allowed at 57.7 per game and held the Gophers to 37.3 percent shooting including 1-of-10 from 3-point land. Jordan Poole drained five 3-pointers en route to a team-high 22 points, while Jon Teske matched a career high with 17 points to go along with seven rebounds and five blocked shots. Zavier Simpson dished out 12 assists – his third game with double-digit dimes.
We saw the Spartans struggle without Ward against Rutgers, but ultimately pulled it out, because, well, it’s Rutgers. This will be a different animal today in Ann Arbor and the Wolverines have had their number recently. Michigan is playing well and their defense is terrific. I think the Wolverines get the job done here today.
Pick: Michigan -4
Spartans are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Spartans are 14-2 ATS in their last 16 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Spartans are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Spartans are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 vs. Big Ten.
Spartans are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 games overall.
Spartans are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss.
Wolverines are 11-0 ATS in their last 11 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Wolverines are 11-1 ATS in their last 12 Sunday games.
Wolverines are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Wolverines are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games.
Wolverines are 38-16-1 ATS in their last 55 vs. Big Ten.
Wolverines are 35-17-3 ATS in their last 55 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Wolverines are 37-18-3 ATS in their last 58 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 4-0 in Spartans last 4 overall.
Under is 5-0 in Spartans last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 4-0 in Spartans last 4 vs. Big Ten.
Under is 9-2 in Spartans last 11 Sunday games.
Under is 13-3-1 in Spartans last 17 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 4-1 in Spartans last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 22-6-1 in Spartans last 29 games following a straight up win.
Under is 4-0 in Wolverines last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Under is 4-0 in Wolverines last 4 home games.
Under is 4-0 in Wolverines last 4 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 8-2 in Wolverines last 10 overall.
Under is 8-2 in Wolverines last 10 vs. Big Ten.
Under is 18-7-1 in Wolverines last 26 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings.
Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Michigan.
Road team is 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings.
