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Kansas State vs Michigan State Sweet 16 Prediction, Picks and Odds March 23

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Kansas State vs Michigan State Betting Preview

The Goldsheet offers their prediction and picks for Kansas State vs Michigan State NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 matchup from Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. Although they’re the higher seeded team, Kansas State heads in as underdogs against Michigan State.

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Kansas State vs Michigan State Betting Odds

Thursday, March 23 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Betting Notes, Courtesy of Caesars
Point Spread: Kansas State Wildcats +2 vs Michigan State Spartans
Total: 137.5 Points
Arena: Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
Game Time: 6:30pm ET / 3:30pm PT
TV: TBS

Kansas State vs Michigan State Betting Analysis

Who would have thought that a team from Kansas playing a team from Michigan would have a homecoming feel in New York City?

That’s exactly what we’ll have in Thursday night’s Michigan State vs Kansas State Sweet 16 opener at Madison Square Garden where a couple of kids from The Big Apple will square off against each other.

Kansas State’s Markquis Nowell bounced between high schools in Brooklyn and Jersey City before embarking on his college career. The 5-8 sparkplug scored 27 in the Wildcats’ win over Kentucky last weekend.

Michigan State’s Tyson Walker played at Christ the King Regional High School in Queens before starring at Northeastern and eventually settling into the green-and-white in East Lansing.

The 6-1 senior had 23 points in the Spartans’ mild upset win over Marquette. Both New Yorkers will be excited to showcase their skills at the World’s Most Famous Arena.

Spartans Flexible With Tempo

The bright lights of Madison Square Garden have traditionally pointed toward lower-scoring games, but we’re going to buck that trend here on Thursday night.

Michigan State’s advanced numbers suggest that the Spartans are a very slow-paced team, but in our opinion, that has more to do with the product of who they have been playing recently.

Michigan State has played Ohio State (No. 279 in offensive possession length) three times in the last five weeks. Rutgers is No. 265 in adjusted tempo.

Tom Izzo doesn’t mind letting his team run a little bit, they just haven’t had much of an opportunity lately in the plodding Big Ten.

Against Big Ten opponents that do enjoy running a little bit more, the Spartans have had no trouble clearing this 137.5 mark: 151 against Indiana; 156 against Michigan; 145 against Indiana; 218 (ha!) against Iowa; and 147 against Nebraska.

Wildcats Run Wild

Kansas State will happily oblige. Jerome Tang’s Wildcats played at the fastest pace in the Big XII this season.

Each of Kansas State’s last seven games have cleared this 137.5 total, and the Wildcats were playing faster at the end of the year than they were at the beginning as Tang got his feet wet as a first-year coach.

Both teams shoot above 75-percent from the free throw line, so we’ve got two strong teams in that department. Neither team relies on three-point shooting as a staple of their offense, so we don’t have to worry about either team throwing up bricks from outside.

After missed shots, the Spartans run modified fast breaks to try and steal an easy bucket. If the opportunity isn’t there, then they settle into their offense. Kansas State will happily oblige to that style of play.

Kansas State vs Michigan State Expert Prediction

We’re going to toss our support on the over at 137.5, but we’ll also recommend putting a couple bucks aside for some live betting opportunities.

It’s the first game of the Sweet 16. You’ve got two star players in their hometown. Michigan State hasn’t been here since 2019.

Kansas State hasn’t been here since 2018. Nerves will be high. Don’t be surprised if there’s a slow start and you might be able to get a discount on the over after a shaky couple of opening minutes.

Prediction: Over 137.5 Points Scored

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Additional Kansas State vs Michigan State Betting Advice | Happy Hour Tip-Off Show

Join Drew Martin, Rob Veno and Bryan Leonard as they joined the Happy Hour Tip-Off show to give their Kansas State vs Michigan State prediction and picks before this first Sweet 16 game tips off. Get their in-depth betting analysis now!

Michigan State vs Kansas State Predictions & Picks | NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Betting Advice

College Basketball Stat Sheet

GoldSheet prepares a daily college basketball stat sheet, which offers a head-to-head comparison for how teams are performing in a number of key areas heading into a game. Check out Thursday’s sheet, with notes on tonight’s Kansas State vs Michigan State prediction and contest.

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