Louisville Cardinals vs. Michigan State Spartans Picks, Predictions, Odds

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

Dec. 1, 2021

Dan Dobish
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Louisville Cardinals (5-1) travel to meet the Michigan State Spartans (5-2) in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge Wednesday at Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on ESPN.

Score Prediction

Michigan State 70, Louisville 66

Best Bets

Over 132.5 (-110)

Louisville Cardinals vs. Michigan State Spartans Predictions

The Cardinals head into this game flying high after posting a 63-55 win over another Big Ten foe, the Maryland Terrapins, on a neutral-site game Saturday in The Bahamas. The Cardinals have rattled off four consecutive victories since an OT loss and wake-up call against Furman on Nov. 12.

The Spartans were drummed 75-58 by the Baylor Bears last time out at the Imperial Arena, also in The Bahamas, snapping a five-game win streak for head coach Tom Izzo's bunch. It was also the first non-cover for the Spartans since its opening-game loss against Kansas in New York City back on Nov. 9.

Louisville Cardinals vs. Michigan State Spartans Betting Odds

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Louisville Cardinals vs. Michigan State Spartans Betting Resources

• Matchup: ACC vs. Big 10
• Date: Wednesday, December 1, 2021
• Venue: Breslin Center
• Location: East Lansing, Michigan
• TV-Time: ESPN - 7:15 p.m. ET

• Injury Report
• Wooden Award Odds
• Conference Futures Market
• Power Rankings

Louisville Cardinals Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 5-1
• ATS: 3-3
• O/U: 2-4

The Cardinals have won four straight and covered three of those outings, including against Maryland last time out in The Bahamas. Noah Locke dropped 12 points with two rebounds, an assist and a steal while hitting three triples, while Malik Williams had the double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds while also recording four steals and a blocked shot. He was money at the charity stripe, too, going a perfect 6-for-6. The Cards were able to grind out a win despite the fact they shot just 35% (21-of-60), while going 22% (6-of-27) from behind the 3-point line.

Louisville has posted a 5-2 ATS in the past seven games on the road against a team with a winning home record, although they're just 3-12-1 ATS in the past 16 games following a cover. The UNDER has come through in five of the past seven games overall.

These teams last met Nov. 27, 2018, with Louisville picking up an 82-78 win in overtime against Michigan State. The OVER has connected in each of the past three meetings between these two sides since March 29, 2015, with two of the games going to overtime.

Michigan State Spartans Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 5-2
• ATS: 4-2-1
• O/U: 2-5

Michigan State didn't shoot that poorly against Baylor, hitting 46.0% (21-of-46), while going 27% (4-of-15) from behind the arc. That could use a little work, as well as a 63% free-throw percentage (12-of-19) which simply will not do. Sparty also turned it over 18 times while picking up nine assists, and not many teams have picked up wins with a 2-to-1 turnover-to-assist margin, especially against a quality opponent.

Gabe Brown has been solid, leading the team with 13.4 PPG and 4.4 RPG, and he has hit 82.6% from the free-throw line. Marcus Bingham Jr. has been good for 10.9 PPG, one of just two players in double digits in points on the season. He also leads the team with 7.1 RPG, while swatting 3.1 BPG.

Sparty is 4-1-1 ATS in six games overall, while going 3-1-1 ATS in the past five in East Lansing. The Spartans are also 3-1-1 ATS in the past five games against winning teams, too. As far as the total, the UNDER is 5-1 in the past six games overall, while going 4-1 in the past five at home.

Michigan State has posted a 4-1-1 ATS mark across the past six games overall. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Louisville Cardinals

• Record: 5-1
• VI Ranking: 38
• PS/G: 71.5 (199th)
• PA/G: 63.3 (87th)
• ORtg: 98.6 (243rd)
• DRtg: 87.4 (51st)

Inside the Stats - Michigan State Spartans

• Record: 5-2
• VI Ranking: 22
• PS/G: 72.1 (186th)
• PA/G: 62.9 (79th)
• ORtg: 100.4 (217th)
• DRtg: 87.5 (54th)

Key Players to Watch

• UL: Noah Locke - G (13.0 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 34.9 3P%)
• UL: Malik Williams - F (8.0 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 1.8 AP, 1.7 SPG, 1.0 BPG)
• MSU: Gabe Brown - F (13.4 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 36.1 3P%)
• MSU: Marcus Bingham Jr. - G (10.9 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 3.1 BPG, 1.3 SPG)

Louisville Cardinals vs. Michigan State Spartans Betting Conclusion

Louisville Cardinals vs. Michigan State Spartans Betting Trends

• Louisville is 5-2 ATS in the past seven on the road against a team with a winning home record.
• Michigan State is 4-1-1 ATS in the past six games overall.
• Michigan State is 3-1-1 ATS in the past five at home.
• The UNDER is 5-2 in the past seven games for Louisville.
• The UNDER is 5-1 in the past six games for Michigan State.

VegasInsider Staff

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