Michigan State vs. Ohio State NCAA Basketball Odds, Preview and Prediction (Archive)
The regular season ends for college basketball’s power conferences this weekend, and there’s still plenty of unsettled business in the Big Ten. Two teams that still hold out hope of a top-four seed—and a bye through the first two rounds of the Big Ten Tournament—will meet in each team’s penultimate regular-season game.
Michigan State and Ohio State are both in that top eight, but each will have to turn around recent tailspins to earn one of those coveted double byes. They start that work against each other, Thursday night in Columbus, in each team’s penultimate regular-season college basketball game. Keep reading as we’ll break down the NCAAB odds and share a winning pick!
Michigan State Spartans vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
Thursday, March 3, 2022 – 7:00 PM EST at Value City Arena
Izzo Time
Tom Izzo is Mr. March after decades of tournament success at Michigan State. No matter how much the Spartans seem to struggle during the season, they always seem to be a factor in the postseason.
He hasn’t been Mr. February so far this year. Michigan State has lost four of its last five and six of eight to fall into a tie for seventh in the Big Ten, at 19-10, 10-8. Still, Izzo’s only win over the last five games was an upset of No. 4 Purdue, showing how dangerous he and his team can be at this time of year.
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The Spartans are still projected to make the NCAA Tournament, which will strike fear in the rest of the field, but they can nail down the bid and improve their seeding with a successful final weekend of the season. Izzo has already begun pressing motivational buttons in the hopes of inspiring another March resurrection. After Tuesday’s loss to Michigan, he called out members of the team for their effort.
“I think the lack of leadership really disappoints me in our juniors and seniors,” he said. “I’m confused how Malik (Hall) can play one way and then he plays another way" He added "It was the first time I saw Julius (Marble) play like that. Laying on the floor, doesn’t get up, they hit a 3.” He also praised freshman Max Christie and sophomore Mady Sissoko for their effort, sending yet another message to the upper classmen.
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A.J. Hoggard played in the Michigan game, but Izzo said he probably shouldn’t have. He hadn’t practiced since Saturday and was battling illness. It remains to be seen whether he’ll be able to go at 100 percent on Thursday.
Struggling in Columbus
Ohio State is also reeling as it enters the final two games. The Buckeyes have lost two straight, including at home to Nebraska on Tuesday, and have dropped three of the last five. That puts the Buckeyes in a tie with Iowa for the fourth and final double-bye spot at 11-7, 18-9 overall. The Buckeyes are also currently projected to make the field but want to remove doubt and boost their seed.
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The Buckeyes are limping down the stretch. Zed Key injured his ankle Saturday against Maryland (a 15-point Ohio State loss) and missed Tuesday’s game. Kyle Young replaced him in the lineup but was pulled from the game due to illness. Key was wearing a protective boot, so it’s not sure if he’ll be ready to go on Thursday. Key and Young are the biggest players in Ohio State’s regular rotation, so they’ll be missed if they aren’t on the floor.
The Pick
Michigan State has a big advantage on the perimeter. The Spartans are No. 16 in the nation in three-point accuracy and No. 50 in three-point defense. Key’s injury and Young’s illness will help even things up inside, too, and make it difficult for Ohio State to slow things down and grind out a win. For your NCAAB picks, look for the Spartans to keep it close and threaten the upset.
NCAAB Pick: Michigan State +5.5 (-105) with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.