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The Michigan State Spartans are set to face the Iowa Hawkeyes. Check out our college basketball odds series, which includes our Michigan State Iowa prediction, odds, and pick.
The Michigan State Spartans, as college basketball odds experts know, are one of the most volatile and unreliable teams in college hoops this season. The Spartans are still likely to make the NCAA Tournament, but they aren't going to get an especially high seed. The Spartans have made the Final Four in the past when they had a No. 7 seed (2015 in Indianapolis), but they can't count on being able to flip the switch. They need to show more consistency, and right now, that consistency is not emerging. It's part of the calculus when making a Michigan State Iowa prediction.
The past few weeks have been rough for Tom Izzo. His team got blown out by Rutgers and then lost to Penn State after having a nine-point second-half lead. Great MSU teams simply would not have allowed either of those scenarios to emerge, but this team just isn't as strong as Izzo's better squads in East Lansing. Turnovers have been a recurring problem for Michigan State this season, and the perimeter shooting has not been good enough to offset the turnovers and the general lack of efficiency from this offense. Michigan State had Illinois at home this past Saturday. It was a huge game in an arena where MSU has normally been very tough to beat over the years. Illinois raced to a quick 19-8 lead, built its advantage as the first half continued, and won. Michigan State made a spirited, late rally, but it dug too big a hole with a terrible start. Nothing about this team inspires confidence, which is why the Michigan State Iowa odds are where they are.
Iowa is coming off a huge road win at Ohio State on Saturday. The Hawkeyes limited a shaky Ohio State offense to 62 points. They did their job after a poor defensive performance resulted in a home-court loss to fellow bubble team Michigan on Thursday. Iowa is probably on the good side of the bubble, but the Hawkeyes have work left to do and need to pick up every decent win they can get. This would be one of them.
Last year's Iowa team had an elite offense. Departures for the NBA and in the transfer portal have lowered this team's ceiling. The Hawkeyes are trying to make sure their floor is still relatively high.
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Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Michigan State-Iowa odds:
College Basketball Odds: Michigan State-Iowa Odds
Michigan State: +6 (-114)
Iowa: -6 (-106)
Over: 153.5 (-110)
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Under: 153.5 (-110)
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Why Michigan State Could Cover the Spread
The Spartans aren't playing well, but Iowa is not the picture of a consistent team. MSU is getting six points from the Hawkeyes after losing to Illinois, a much better team than Iowa, by five on Saturday. Covering the spread is very doable.
Why Iowa Could Cover the Spread
The Hawkeyes are at home, coming off a win, building confidence, and facing a Michigan State team which is going through a very rough time. Naturally, Iowa could cover the spread.
Final Michigan State-Iowa Prediction & Pick
Iowa is at home, but the six-point spread is an eye-grabber. Michigan State is not a reliable team, but the Spartans are bound to play a good game at some point. If Iowa was favored by 1.5 points, the Hawkeyes would be a good pick, but at six points, take MSU.
Final Michigan State-Iowa Pick: Michigan State +6
