7:00 pm
January 28

Michigan State @ Rutgers

Who will WIN this matchup?

Michigan State Spartans (8-4)

@ Rutgers Scarlet Knights (8-6)

 

Current odds:

Michigan State Spartans: (+135)

Rutgers Scarlet Knights: (-155)

 

• The line for this game is Rutgers by 3 points.

• The last time Michigan State and Rutgers played, it was a matchup of ranked teams on Jan. 5. More than three weeks later, things have trended downward for both teams entering their Big Ten rematch on Thursday at Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J.

• For Michigan State, it will actually be just the second game it has played since that first meeting with Rutgers and its first in 20 days. Following a 55-54 home loss to Purdue on Jan. 8 that saw the Spartans blow a 17-point lead, Michigan State has had to postpone games against Iowa, Indiana and Illinois due to COVID-19 issues on the team. Since the Purdue game, reserves Mady Sissoko, Steven Izzo and Davis Smith, and starter Josh Langford, have all tested positive for COVID-19.

• After a hot start to the season, Michigan State has dropped to 8-4 overall, 2-4 in conference play, and all of a sudden looks like a bubble team for the NCAA Tournament after being ranked as high as No. 4 earlier in the season.

• On the other side, the 68-45 loss at Michigan State was the second in a five-game losing streak for Rutgers that dropped the Scarlet Knights out of the rankings. Rutgers did have a rebound performance in its last game though, earning a 74-70 win at Indiana to improve to 8-6 overall and 4-6 in the conference.

• Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell made some lineup changes before the game against Indiana, inserting Paul Mulcahy and Caleb McConnell into the starting lineup and bringing Jacob Young and Montez Mathis off of the bench. Pikiell also gave Geo Baker more reign to run the offense as point guard, and Baker delivered to the tune of 19 points and five assists.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
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