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College Basketball

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

Daniel Dobish
Daniel Dobish Sports Betting Expert
6 minute read

The Minnesota Golden Gophers (10-3, 1-3 Big Ten) travel to meet the Michigan State Spartans (13-2, 4-0) in a Big Ten conference clash on Wednesday at Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on Big Ten.

SCORE PREDICTION

Michigan State 78, Minnesota 64

BEST BETS

Michigan State -12.5 (-110) at BetMGM

Over 139.5 (-110) at BetMGM

MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS VS. MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS PREDICTIONS

The Golden Gophers have dropped two straight games heading into this one, and it's not that they lost, but how they lost. Minnesota resumed play Jan. 4 at home against Illinois after the holiday break and COVID pause, falling to the Fighting Illini by a 76-53 score as 6.5-point underdogs as the UNDER connected. The Gophers were back at it at Indiana on Sunday, and Minnesota was dumped 73-60 as 11.5-point underdogs. That's two straight losses by an average of 18.0 PPG, and they're in the midst of an 0-3-1 ATS skid dating back to Dec. 11 at Michigan.

These teams met in the Twin Cities back on Dec. 8, too, with the Spartans coming away with a 75-67 victory as seven-point favorites as the OVER (135.5) connected. Michigan State has dominated this series lately, at least against the number, covering six of the past seven meetings. Minnesota won last season's meeting in the Twin Cities by an 81-56 score, but lost in East Lansing by a 70-52 count on Jan. 26, 2020. The OVER hit in the first meeting this season, but the UNDER is 8-1 across the past nine meetings.

MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS VS. MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS BETTING ODDS

More Odds | Futures Odds

MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS VS. MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS BETTING RESOURCES

  • Matchup: Big 10
  • Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2022
  • Venue: Breslin Center
  • Location: East Lansing, Michigan
  • TV-Time: BTN - 7:00 p.m. ET

MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS BETTING ANALYSIS

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

  • SU: 10-3
  • ATS: 6-6-1
  • O/U: 7-6

While Minnesota hasn't won or covered in each of the past two, the Gophers haven't had three consecutive ATS losses since going 0-7 ATS in the final seven games of the regular season from Feb. 14-March 6 last season.

Minnesota is 0-3-1 ATS across the past four games overall, while going just 1-4 ATS in the past five against teams with a winning overall record. It's not all bad, however, as the Golden Gophers have posted a 5-2 ATS record across the past seven games on the road, while cashing in five of the past six road outings against a team with a winning overall home mark.

For totals, it's all OVERs all the time for Minnesota lately. The OVER is 5-2 in the past seven games overall, while cashing in five of the past six road outings. The OVER is also 5-0 in the past five road outings against a team with a winning home record. However, the UNDER is 22-7 in the past 29 games against teams with a winning overall mark.

MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS BETTING ANALYSIS

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

  • SU: 13-2
  • ATS: 9-5-1
  • O/U: 7-7-1

Sparty won last time out against Nebraska, but it failed to cover in a 79-67 victory as 15-point favorites at home. Still, since losing to Baylor back on Nov. 26 on a neutral court, Michigan State has rattled off eight consecutive outings. They're also 5-3 ATS in the past eight contests. That includes the win at Minnesota on Dec. 8, covering a seven-point number in the eight-point victory.

Michigan State shot just 47%, or 25-of-53, from the field against Minnesota in the first meeting, dropping in 10 3-pointers while hitting 48% from behind the arc. The good is that Michigan State also used its size to push around Minnesota, outrebounding the Gophers 41 to 24, the biggest difference. That rebounding edge negated the fact Michigan State turned the ball over 13 times to just twice for Minnesota. Three players tied for the most points with 15, led by Tyson Walker, who was a very efficient 5-of-7 with five rebounds, three assists and two triples.

Sparty is 9-4-1 ATS in the past 14 games overall, while going 4-0 ATS in the past four games overall against teams with a winning record. They're also 5-2 ATS in the past seven games at home against teams with a winning road mark.

On totals, the OVER is 3-1-1 in the previous five outings at Breslin Center, while going 5-2-1 in the past eight outings. However, the UNDER is 20-7 in the past 27 games against teams with a winning overall record.


The OVER has cashed in five of the past seven games overall for Minnesota. (AP)

INSIDE THE STATS - MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS

  • Record: 10-3
  • VI Ranking: 42
  • PS/G: 69.6 (244th)
  • PA/G: 64.8 (91st)
  • ORtg: 102.1 (200th)
  • DRtg: 95.1 (124th)

INSIDE THE STATS - MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS

  • Record: 13-2
  • VI Ranking: 7
  • PS/G: 75.8 (101st)
  • PA/G: 65.5 (106th)
  • ORtg: 107.3 (92nd)
  • DRtg: 92.7 (75th)

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

  • MINN: Jamison Battle - F (18.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 48.3 FG%)
  • MINN: Payton Willis - G (15.8 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.7 SPG)
  • MSU: Marcus Bingham, Jr. - F (10.5 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.8 BPG, 58.0 FG%)
  • MSU: Gabe Brown - F (14.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.1 APG, 39.8 3P%)

MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS VS. MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS BETTING CONCLUSION

Minnesota put up a good fight in the Twin Cities in the first meeting, but eventually ended up losing by eight points to just miss the cover. Since, they've gone into a tailspin, with the Golden Gophers losing and failing to cover in the past two games by an average of 18.0 PPG. They're showing no signs of snapping back onto the rails.

Meanwhile, Michigan State is rolling right along, winning eight straight outings, while going 4-2 ATS in the past six contests. The OVER is 5-2-1 during the eight-game win streak for Sparty, while the OVER is 5-2 across the past seven contests for the Golden Gophers. Look for Michigan State to grab the cover late in the second half, with the OVER inching across the finish line late.

MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS VS. MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS BETTING TRENDS

  • Minnesota is 0-3-1 ATS in the past four games overall.
  • Minnesota is 1-4 ATS in the past five vs. winning teams.
  • Minnesota is 5-2 ATS in the past seven road games.
  • Minnesota is 4-1 ATS in the past five as a road underdog.
  • Michigan State is 9-4-1 ATS in the past 14 games overall.
  • Michigan State is 8-3-1 ATS in the past 12 as a favorite.
  • Michigan State is 4-0 ATS in the past four vs. winning teams.
  • The OVER is 5-2 in the past seven overall for Minnesota.
  • The OVER is 5-1 in the past six road games for Minnesota.
  • The OVER is 6-1 in the past seven as a 'dog for Minnesota.
  • The OVER is 5-2-1 in the past eight games for Michigan State.
  • The OVER is 3-1-1 in the past five road games for Michigan State.
  • The UNDER is 20-7 in the past 27 for Michigan State vs. winning teams.
  • The favorite is 8-1 ATS in the past nine meetings.
  • The home team is 12-5 ATS in the past 17 meetings.

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Daniel Dobish

Daniel Dobish

Dan is a handicapper and sports betting expert for VegasInsider with years of experience writing for a number of top publications in the industry. More from Daniel Dobish
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