Time:<\/strong> 8:00 PM ET \/ 5:00 PM PT
Broadcast:<\/strong> FS1
Location:<\/strong> Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City, IA
Spread:<\/strong> Michigan State -6.5 | Total: 152.5<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Michigan State vs Iowa Betting Preview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
While he’s certainly focused on battling Michigan State, Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery has a bone to pick with Sparty’s rival. Because of Michigan’s loss to Maryland on Wednesday, Michigan State can capture the Big Ten regular season crown at Carver Hawkeye Arena tonight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his press conference on Wednesday, McCaffery said, “I have no intention of moving on” but the rumors have been swirling since January and a loss to Northwestern on Friday did not help his case. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iowa is now firmly planted in the bottom-4 of the Big Ten and the Hawkeyes are in danger of missing the Big Ten Tournament. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iowa has been a thorn in Michigan State’s side in recent years, winning five of the last six meetings and going 5-1 against the spread. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Michigan State has attracted some money on Wednesday morning, but instead of looking at the point spread, we’re a little more attracted toward the total. Six of the last eight meetings have stayed under the total, and that is the direction we’re looking on Thursday night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iowa simply looks like it is running out of gas at the end of the season. Last season, Iowa was top-20 in the country in adjusted tempo. Entering Thursday, the Hawkeyes are No. 56 this season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iowa’s offense is still playing at the fastest pace in the Big Ten, but recent contests against Oregon, Washington, Illinois and Northwestern have been played well-below Iowa’s preferred pace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Hawkeyes only attempted 58 shots from the floor in Friday’s loss at Northwestern. Michigan State is built to defend everything that Iowa does well, and with the Big Ten title on the line, you can bank on a strong defensive effort from the Spartans in this one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Michigan State vs Iowa Predictions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The under is 9-1 in Michigan State’s last ten games. This is senior night in Iowa City, and with this potentially being Coach McCaffrey’s last home game, there will likely be some fanfare surrounding that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the Spartans do hold a comfortable lead in the second half, Tom Izzo will likely take his foot off the gas in the latter stages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iowa doesn’t appear to have much left in the tank, and Michigan is well-equipped to defend the Hawkeyes’ offense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Michigan State vs Iowa Prediction: Under 152.5<\/h3>\n\n\n\nGoldSheet Top Picks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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