Betting On Wisconsin Michigan State - Michigan State Tries To Keep Rolling Against Wisconsin
The Michigan State Spartans have given themselves a great chance to win the Big Ten regular season championship. They can take a big step to that goal with a win over Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Badgers @ Michigan State Spartans - Thursday, February 16Sports betting line: No line
Why Wisconsin Will Win
When you do your homework and assess your sports bet on this game, it’s worth mentioning that the Badgers were in disarray the last time these two teams met. In early January, Wisconsin was reeling. Coach Bo Ryan’s team, burdened by the weight of high expectations, seemed smothered by pressure and generally unable to function at the offensive end of the floor. The Badgers were sluggish; their legs didn’t move and their halfcourt sets lacked any flow or structure whatsoever. The Badgers settled for a lot of long jumpers and played one-on-one basketball, not what Ryan demands from his teams. The Wisconsin modus operandi has been built on intricate halfcourt sets with many interlocking screens and cuts. Possessions are supposed to grind down defenses instead of bailing them out, but in early January, that’s what Wisconsin did. Michigan State came into the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin, and gained its first road win against the Badgers in Tom Izzo’s tenure as the Spartans’ head coach.
That’s how tough it’s been for Michigan State to win in Wisconsin. Moreover, as poorly as Wisconsin played that night, MSU won by only three points, 63-60… in overtime. Wisconsin is a far better team right now than it was in early January. The Badgers, who had a miserable three-week patch over a month ago, have shrugged off the pressure they felt so fully and have managed to return to playing their style of ball. If Wisconsin plays up to its capabilities, Michigan State will have to play at a very high level to win. The fact that Wisconsin fell so markedly short in the first meeting between these teams points the way to a rebound – and a taste of revenge – in this contest.
Why Michigan State Will Win
The college basketball betting experts who follow the Big Ten Conference for a living know that while Wisconsin is highly likely to play better in this rematch between the two teams, Michigan State is also in a position to exceed its effort in Madison roughly five and a half weeks ago. The Spartans have managed to propel themselves to the top of the Big Ten Conference, regaining the intensity and rebounding prowess that marked their ascendancy over the past 13 years. Michigan State began its run as a true national power in 1999, when it powered its way to the Final Four and initiated a golden age in which it reached six Final Fours in 13 seasons.
The Spartans formed an identity based on relentless rebounding, airtight defense, and marked role distribution in which each player is able to find his own niche on the court. That was missing in 2011, but it has returned in 2012, and this is why MSU was able to stop Ohio State’s 39-game home-court winning streak this past Saturday. Michigan State is playing the best basketball in the Big Ten. Playing this game at home should help the Spartans to stay on top of the league.
Who Will Win
It’s true that Wisconsin is a steadily improving club, but Michigan State is actually managing to improve at a rate which exceeds anything the Badgers can muster. Go with the Spartans at home in East Lansing, Michigan.
College Basketball Betting Pick: Michigan State
