Michigan State Spartans vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers Picks, Predictions, Odds

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

Dec. 8, 2021

Dan Dobish
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Michigan State Spartans (7-2) travel to meet the Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-0) in the Big Ten conference opener Wednesday night at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on the Big Ten Network.

Score Prediction

Michigan State 73, Minnesota 66

Best Bets

Michigan State -5.5 (-110)

OVER 133.5 (-110)

Michigan State Spartans vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers Predictions

Sparty hits the road looking to ruin the unblemished record of the Golden Gophers. Michigan State is more battle-tested, playing games against marquee opponents Kansas, Loyola-Illinois, UConn and Baylor, as well as Louisville. While the Spartans have a couple of losses this season, they'll be better for it heading into this game against the Gophers.

The Golden Gophers topped Pittsburgh and Mississippi State on the road, but this will be the biggest measuring-stick game of the season. Are the Gophers for real? The books aren't feeling them, as Minnesota is catching three buckets at home despite the fact they're unbeaten with a better record than MSU. Minnesota has covered five of season games overall, but they're 1-2 ATS in the past three after a 4-0 ATS record to start.

Michigan State Spartans vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers Betting Odds

• Michigan State -225
• Minnesota +180
• Michigan State -5.5 (-110)
• Minnesota +5.5 (-110)
• OVER 133.5 (-105)
• UNDER 133.5 (-115)

More Odds | Futures Odds

Michigan State Spartans vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers Betting Resources

• Matchup: Big 10
• Date: Wednesday, December 8, 2021
• Venue: Williams Arena
• Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
• TV-Time: BTN - 9:00 p.m. ET

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

Michigan State Spartans Betting Analysis

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

• SU: 7-2
• ATS: 5-4
• O/U: 3-6

Michigan State will be playing just its second true road game of the season. They negotiated through some choppy waters early at Butler on Nov. 17 before righting the ship and coasting to a 73-52 win to easily cover a three-point number. The UNDER hit in that outing, and the UNDER is 4-0 in the past four away from home if you include neutral-site affairs, too.

Despite that cover at Butler, Michigan State is still just 3-9 ATS in the past 12 games on the road. As far as the total is concerned, the UNDER is 4-0 in the pats four road games, and 3-1-1 in the past five games overall. The UNDER has connected in 20 of the past 26 games against teams with a winning overall mark.

Michigan State hopes things go better than last season's trip to the Twin Cities on Dec. 28, as the Gophers rolled up an 81-56 win as three-point underdogs while the UNDER connected.

Minnesota Golden Gophers Betting Analysis

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

• SU: 7-0
• ATS: 5-2
• O/U: 3-4

The Golden Gophers had some offensive hiccups, going for just 55 and 54 in two wins over Jacksonville and Pittsburgh on Nov. 24-30, but they bounced back with 81 points last time out.

Sean Sutherlin (knee) is listed as a question mark for this one due to a knee ailment. He has managed 9.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.0 APG while posting a team-high 57.6% field-goal percentage, so if he is unable to play it would make a big difference to the total.

The UNDER is 10-3 in the past 13 games at home, while going 22-6 in the past 28 against teams with a winning overall mark.

The Michigan State Spartans have managed to cover just three of the past 12 games on the road. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Michigan State Spartans

• Record: 7-2
• VI Ranking: 18
• PS/G: 73.2
• PA/G: 63.6
• ORtg: 37.3
• DRtg: 30.2

Inside the Stats - Minnesota Golden Gophers

• Record: 7-0
• VI Ranking: 45
• PS/G: 71.3
• PA/G: 61.0
• ORtg: 31.0
• DRtg: 36.4

Key Players to Watch

• MSU – Marcus Bingham Jr. - G (10.6 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 56.7% FG%)
• MSU – Gabe Brown - G (12.9 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 35.4% 3P%)
• MINN – Jamison Battle - F (17.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 33.9 3P%)
• MINN – Payton Willis - G (17.4 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.9 SPG)

Michigan State Spartans vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers Betting Conclusion

I believe that a big-time non-conference schedule, even if you suffer some losses, is a lot more valuable than playing a handful of cream puffs. You get your meddle tested, you get to find out where you are early on, and you know which areas need improvement. Minnesota has yet to really be tested, and they'll finally find out a lot about themselves Wednesday.

I'd feel much better about picking the Spartans if not for that ugly, ugly loss in Minneapolis last season. Still, that's last season. We haven't seen Minnesota have that kind of a complete effort so far this season. I think we'll have to wait for that big game start to finish.

Michigan State Spartans vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers Betting Trends

• Michigan State is 5-2-1 ATS in the past eight games overall.
• Michigan State is 3-9 ATS in the past 12 games on the road.
• Minnesota is 7-2 ATS in the past nine games overall.
• Minnesota is 11-5 ATS in the past 16 home games.
• The UNDER is 4-0 in the past four road games for MSU.
• The UNDER is 10-3 in the past 13 home games for Minnesota.

VegasInsider Staff

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