Friday’s CBB betting market opened Michigan at -3.5 over Michigan State, with an over/under of right around 152. Early betting action shaved that spread to -3.
Michigan State-Michigan Betting Preview
The top two teams in the Big 10 do battle Friday night when Michigan and Michigan State meet for a rivalry bash in Ann Arbor.
The Wolverines lead the Big 10 by a half-game over the second-place Spartans, with March fast approaching. And these teams will meet again in their regular season finale in a couple of weeks.
Michigan’s playing a lot of close games lately, and this one should be close, too.
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The Spartans are 3-1 both SU and ATS over their last four games following a 75-66 victory over Purdue Tuesday night. Michigan State, favored at -3, trailed by seven points midway through the first half. But the Spartans went on a 19-8 run to lead at the half and later led by 13, on their way to the W and the money.
MSU shot 58 percent from the floor Tuesday, including 69 percent from 2-point range.
Two games ago, the Spartans shot 49 percent from the floor and won at Illinois 79-65.
At 12-3 in conference play,y Michigan State sits in second place in the Big 10, a half-game behind first-place Michigan. The Spartans are also trying to secure a top-four finish, which earns one a double-bye in the upcoming Big 10 tournament.
Meanwhile the Wolverines ride a six-game winning streak into Friday after outlasting Ohio State 86-83 last Sunday. Neither team ever led that game by more than seven points. Michigan finally took the lead for good with a bucket with just under two minutes to go and hung on by their fingertips from there.
The Wolverines shot 49 percent from the floor Sunday and out-rebounded the Buckeyes 46-31.
Two games ago, Michigan came from behind to defeat Purdue 75-73. Three games ago the Wolverines won at Indiana 70-67.
In fact, each of Michigan’s wins during its current run have come by four points or less.
At 12-2 in conference play the Wolverines lead the Big 10 by a half-game over Michigan State.
By the Numbers
Michigan State is shooting 47 percent from the field this season, only 29 percent from 3-point range but 80 percent from the free-throw line. Defensively, the Spartans are holding opponents to 40 percent FG shooting and out-rebounding foes by a 37-28 per-game margin. This while playing what ESPN ranks as the 29th-toughest schedule in the country.
Michigan is shooting 49/36/73 percent across the board, holding foes to 41 percent FG shooting and winning the battle on the glass 35-29. This while playing ESPN’s No. 9 schedule.
Michigan State-Michigan Recent History
The Spartans own the edge in the recent rivalry with the Wolverines, winning five of the last seven meetings SU, going 5-2 ATS along the way. Last year Michigan State swept two games from Michigan by scores of 81-62 (in East Lansing) and 73-62 (at Crisler Arena).
Both those games played under on the totals.
Totals Report
The Unders are 17-9 in Spartans games this season, which are averaging 147 total points.
The Overs are 14-11 in Wolverines games, which are averaging 153 points.
