Two teams playing some good basketball as of late meet when Michigan State battles Maryland in a Big 10 bout Wednesday night in College Park.
The Spartans own three straight victories, the last two over top-15 opponents, and lead the Big 10, with four games left to play. Meanwhile the Terrapins are 8-1 their last nine times out, surging toward the postseason.
Michigan State owns the upper hand in the series with Maryland but the Terps are favored by a couple buckets for Wednesday night.
Who do we like for our free college basketball betting pick?
NCAAB Betting Odds
Wednesday’s CBB betting market opened Maryland at -3.5 over Michigan State, with an over/under of right around 151. Both numbers were holding steady in early betting action.
Michigan State-Maryland Betting Preview
The Spartans own a three-game winning streak after beating rival Michigan at Ann Arbor last Friday 75-62. That game was tied at 42-42 early in the second half when Michigan State clamped on the D and out-scored Michigan 33-20 from there.
The Spartans shot 9/22 from 3-point range and won both the battle on the glass 34-25 and the turnover battle 15-11.
Two games ago Michigan State shot 58 percent from the field and beat Purdue 75-66. Three games ago they held Illinois to 38 percent shooting and won 79-65.
At 13-3 in conference play the Spartans are tied for the lead in the Big 10 with Michigan. The teams meet again in their regular-season finale in a couple weeks. And at 22-5 overall Michigan State has played its way into contention for a top seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament.
Meanwhile the Terrapins own a four-game winning streak after beating USC last Thursday 88-71. Maryland, favored at -11.5, led 11-0 out of the gate and 52-32 early in the second half. The Terps later allowed the Trojans to get within six but re-applied the gas, pulled away and covered.
Maryland shot 49 percent from the floor and out-rebounded USC 41-26.
Two games ago the Terps shot 58 percent from the field, beat Iowa 101-75 and covered at -11. Three games ago they shot 59 percent, beat Nebraska 83-75 and covered at -1.
Stretching back into January the Terrapins are 8-1 SU, 6-3 ATS over their last nine games.
At 11-5 in conference play Maryland sits in fourth place in the Big 10, a half-game behind third-place Wisconsin and a half-game ahead of UCLA and Purdue. So the Terps are right in the middle of the fight for a top-four seed in the upcoming Big 10 tournament, which comes with a double-bye into the quarterfinals.
And at 21-6 overall Maryland is also playing for good seeding at the Big Dance.
By the Numbers
Michigan State is shooting 47 percent from the field this season, 30 percent from 3-point range and 80 percent from the free-throw line. The Spartans are also holding opponents to 40 percent FG shooting and out-rebounding foes by a 37-27 per-game margin. This while playing what ESPN ranks as the 29th-toughest schedule in the country.
Maryland is shooting 49/38/75 percent across the board, holding opponents to 42 percent FG shooting and winning the battle on the glass 35-29. This while playing ESPN’s No. 72 schedule.
Spartans-Terps Recent History
Michigan State owns a six-game winning streak on Maryland, going 5-1 ATS along the way. Last year the Spartans swept two games from the Terrapins by scores of 61-59 at College Park and 63-54 at East Lansing.
Both those games played under on the totals.
Spartans-Terps Betting Trends
Michigan State is 4-1-1 ATS as an underdog this season.
Totals Report
The Under is 18-9 in Spartans games this season, which are averaging 146 total points.
The Over is 17-9 in Terrapins games, which are averaging 151 points.
The Under is 6-2 over the last eight meetings between these teams.
