CLICK HERE FOR THE BEST NCAA BASKETBALL CAPPERS ON THE PLANET & DAILY PLAYS!! \u2014><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Northwestern @ Purdue<\/strong><\/p>\n Records<\/strong>: Friday, March 12, 8:55 p.m. ET This is an interesting Big Ten matchup and oddsmakers agree. Why else would nationally ranked Michigan State, a year removed from the Final Four, only be favoured by three points over a team that isn\u2019t even guaranteed to make the tournament? <\/p>\n The Minnesota Golden Gophers, who smoked Penn State 76-55 in the opening round, have already beaten Ohio State, Wisconsin and Butler this season. They also stayed close with the Michigan State back on January 13, holding the Spartans to 60 points but still losing by seven. <\/p>\n Michigan State has the better pedigree, not to mention eight straight wins over Minnesota, but it isn\u2019t exactly peaking in time for the Big Ten Tourney. Raymar Morgan has been great but star guard Kalin Lucas hasn\u2019t been himself since returning from an ankle injury, averaging just nine points and shooting 31.6 per cent from the floor in his last four games. <\/p>\n Even though the Gophers have beaten five of their last six spreads, a three-point margin is essentially a one-possession spread. I think that\u2019s too tight. A slumping Lucas is better than no Lucas and he has to find his touch eventually. On the strength of Morgan\u2019s dominance on the boards, I think the Spartans will scrape by tonight. <\/p>\n
\nMinnesota: 19-12 SU, 15-15 ATS
\nMichigan State: 24-7 SU, 12-18 ATS <\/p>\n
\nSportsbook favorite: Michigan State -3
\nBIG TEN MEN’S TOURNAMENT – QTR FINALS – INDIANAPOLIS INDIANA<\/p>\n
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