Bet On College Basketball: Crimson Tide vs Gators
Alabama was a highly ranked team before the season started, but things haven’t gone exactly as planned for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama was a highly ranked team before the season started, but things haven’t gone exactly as planned for the Crimson Tide.
The top team in the country will be on display Friday afternoon at the Georgia Dome. LSU beat Arkansas and they’ll get a second chance at the Wildcats.
The Big Ten Tournament kicks off in earnest when Iowa takes on Michigan State at high noon eastern time in the quarterfinals Friday afternoon.
Marquette currently sits in second place in the highly competitive Big East Conference.
Notre Dame won nine straight games in the Big East, but now they have dropped two in a row.
Both UNLV and Colorado State have some pretty drastic home/away splits this year. The Runnin’ Rebels are 16-0 at home and 5-6 on the road.
Kansas State picked up a massive win on the road last week, then they followed it up with a disappointing loss at home to Iowa State.
Texas A&M was picked to finish at the top of the Big 12 this year, but the Aggies have suffered through a disappointing season.
Virginia is 13-1 at home this year. Tony Bennett’s team has been one of the biggest surprises in the nation.
The Duke Blue Devils have gone largely unnoticed this season compared to normal, but they do sit at fourth in the rankings.
UConn is the defending national champion, but the Huskies have been struggling quite a bit of late. Jim Calhoun is still away from the team, and the Huskies seem to be missing a spark.
There isn’t the same hatred in this game as there is surrounding the date between these two in November on the football field, but there is plenty on the line in this one.
Michigan State stunned the nation by dominating Ohio State in Columbus this past weekend.
Missouri has only lost two games all year, but one of those games was to Oklahoma State in Stillwater earlier this year.
Ohio State had its 39-game home winning streak snapped when the Michigan State Spartans came into Columbus and beat them on Saturday.
The top two teams in the Big Ten will meet Saturday evening in Columbus, Ohio. Michigan State had a down year last season, but Tom Izzo’s team is much improved this year.
NCAA Basketball Matchup: Michigan State vs. Ohio State
6:00 PM EST
College Basketball Gambling Odds from BetOnline
NCAA Basketball Betting Favorite: Ohio State -9.5
Over/Under: 127
Ohio State comes into this one at 21-3 on the year. The Buckeyes are 17-0 at home.
These two are the best rebounding teams in the Big Ten, so expect a physical battle.
This should be a good one!
Last year’s Michigan State team was loaded with talent, but they weren’t terribly coachable and the team chemistry was poor. The Spartans are clearly a more cohesive unit this season. Draymond Green is a great senior leader for this team. Green averages 15.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
Green’s versatility makes him a tough guy to guard. Keith Appling has stepped up and given the team a very good point guard. Appling doesn’t have a great outside shot, but he excels at getting to the rim. Derrick Nix and Adreian Payne are both bruisers down low. Michigan State is first in the league in offensive rebounding.
The Spartans allow just 59.0 points per game. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Jared Sullinger is the man in the middle for Ohio State. Sullinger has slimmed down a bit this year, but he is as strong as ever. Sullinger leads the team at 17.4 points and nine rebounds per contest. William Buford has been in a slump this year, but he had a breakout game against Purdue on Tuesday night. Buford carried the team with 29 big points.
This team needs Buford to continue to play with confidence if they are going to make a run to the Final Four. DeShaun Thomas is a guy who can fill it up in a hurry when he gets hot.
Aaron Craft is a very good point guard for this team, and he is on the Bob Cousy Award list as one of the nation’s best at his position. Ohio State shoots 49% from the floor, while they hold opponents to just 39.7%. The Buckeyes allow only 56.6 points per game.
Michigan State will probably stay within the number here.
I expect an Ohio State win, but Tom Izzo’s team should be well-prepared.
Prediction: Ohio State 68 Michigan State 61