Bet On College Basketball: Hawkeyes vs Spartans
The Big Ten Tournament kicks off in earnest when Iowa takes on Michigan State at high noon eastern time in the quarterfinals Friday afternoon.
Big 10 Tournament Basketball Matchup: Iowa vs. Michigan State
12:00 PM EST on ESPN
College Basketball Gambling Odds from Bookmaker
NCAA Basketball Betting Favorite: MSU -11
Over/Under: Off
Iowa made a nice second half run to come back and beat the Fighting Illini yesterday. Tom Izzo’s Spartans beat Iowa 95-61 in their last meeting in January.
Can the young Hawkeyes put up a fight here?
Iowa has definitely played much better at the end of the season. The Hawkeyes have won three of their last five games, and that includes wins against Wisconsin and Indiana. Matt Gatens has been on fire of late, and when he is on he can carry a team. Gatens has scored at least 20 points in five of the Hawkeyes last seven contests.
He is shooting 43% from beyond the arc this season. Bryce Cartwright has struggled with injuries much of the year, but he is a big key to this team’s success. They will need a big game out of him in this one.
Aaron White and Melsahn Basabe must hold their own in the paint against the mighty Spartans frontcourt. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Michigan State is led by Big Ten Player of the Year Draymond Green. Green lead the team in both points per game and rebounds. He averaged 16.2 points and 10.2 boards per contest. It is the Spartans great half court defense that has propelled them to a terrific season.
Michigan State allows opponents to shoot just 37.7% from the floor. In addition, Michigan State is great at controlling the boards. They led the Big Ten in rebounding this year. Adreian Payne, Derrick Nix, and Draymond Green can all dominate on the boards. Branden Dawson will miss the rest of the year with a torn ACL, and that will certainly hold back the Spartans this March.
Brandon Wood and Keith Appling will need to pick up more of the scoring load.
Look for the Spartans to dominate the glass and get plenty of easy baskets in transition here.
Iowa plays hard, but they should be in over their heads here.
Prediction: Michigan State 79 Iowa 64
