Spartans vs Longhorns College Basketball Lines
The number 5 Spartans are in tough as they travel to Austin to play the Texas Longhorns who are coming off a huge upset win on the road versus the North Carolina Tar Heels. [ad-4468020]
Michigan State Spartans (9-1) @ Texas Longhorns (10-1)
When: Saturday, December 21st, 2013, 4:00 PM ET
Where: Frank Erwin Special Events Center, Austin, Texas
Broadcast: CBS
Spread: Michigan State -2.5
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This is a real tough game for the Michigan State Spartans. This is a real tough road game for the Michigan State Spartans as they face a Longhorns team on the road, fired up, and coming off a huge upset win over North Carolina.
Not only do the Spartans have to deal with all that, but they have a lot of injuries. Michigan State’s leading scorer, Gary Harris (17.6 points per game), has missed 3 of the last 4 games and is doubtful on Saturday evening versus the Longhorns.
Seniors Adreian Payne and Keith Appling who are 2nd and 3rd in points per game and have been banged up with nagging injuries.
Plus, a couple of their bench players in Matt Costello and Travis Trice are questionable as well with nagging injuries of their own.
So, who will Michigan State trot on out there? Who knows.
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The Texas Longhorns are feeling good about themselves. They are 10-1, nice and healthy and coming off a big win versus the North Carolina.
But, that’s not all. The Longhorns, even at 10-1 and a win on the road versus the Tar Heels, are still disrespected. They didn’t receive one vote in the top 25. Look for the Longhorns to come out at home and really give a 100% effort.
The Longhorns don’t really have one star player, they play as a team. Junior forward, Jonathan Holmes is the leading scorer at 13.1 points per game.
Freshman guard Isaiah Taylor is 12.1 points per game, sophomore guard Demarcus Holland is 3rd at 11.4 points per game, sophomore guard Javan Felix is 4th scoring 10.9 points per game, and sophomore center Cameron Ridley is scoring 9.9 points per game, and pulling down 7.6 rebounds a game which is the most on the team.
Triangle theories never work, but it’s worth mentioning that the Michigan State Spartans lost at home versus the North Carolina Tar Heels. While the Texas Longhorns went into Chapel Hill and beat the Tar Heels. Again, triangle theories never work, but it’s worth keeping in mind.
Just a little more food for thought.
Danny’s FREE College Basketball Pick:
Michigan State has a lot of injuries. They are a bit banged up and Texas has a lot of momentum coming into this game after upsetting the North Carolina Tar Heels. Not only that, but the Longhorns still feel disrespected. Even at 10-1 and after upsetting the Longhorns aren’t ranked and not only that, but they didn’t even get a vote in the top 25.
Texas is going to use that as motivation and try and make a statement this early in the season. The Spartans might not want it as much as Texas, plus they have a lot of injuries, and plus they are on the road.
They will be playing right in Austin and when you factor it all in I believe Texas at +2.5 is the best pick in this game.
