Sunday's Best NCAAB Bet
Michigan State Spartans at Wisconsin Badgers (-9, 124.5)
It’s hard to put into perspective just how bad the Spartans are playing right now.
Michigan State is 0-8 ATS in its past eight games, 0-8 ATS in its past eight Big 10 games and not surprisingly is a wretched 3-5 SU over that span. The team has struggled to play consistent defense and each of its past three wins have come in overtime.
For the season, the Spartans are letting opponents shoot an absurd 37.4 percent from beyond the arc and are allowing a terrible 67.7 points per game. And the team’s rotation is in shambles.
Chris Allen was kicked off the team this summer and stud sixth man Korie Lucious was suspended for the season last month. Additionally, senior Durrell Summers been inconsistent on both ends of the floor, forward Derrick Nix took a leave of absence early in the season and still hasn’t played himself into shape and freshman Russell Byrd suffered a broken foot.
"I don't feel any regrets with anybody who's left this program because nobody ever leaves under one, two or three chances," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "The regret is that guys didn't grow up and understand what they had to do.”
For that rag-tag group to upset the Badgers 64-61 in overtime in East Lansing earlier this year, Wisconsin had one of its worst late-game collapses in the past decade when it gave up a nine-point lead with 2:42 remaining.
The Badgers will close the game out this time.
Pick: Wisconsin
NCAA Betting: Ohio State treks to Minnesota
By: Brad Young
Top-ranked Ohio State (23-0 straight up, 10-10 against the spread) puts its unblemished record on the line Sunday against 19th-ranked Minnesota (16-6 SU, 10-12 ATS). The Buckeyes have a healthy three-game lead in the Big Ten standings, while the Golden Gophers are locked in a three-way tie for fifth place.
Ohio State continued its winning ways by dumping rival Michigan Thursday as a decided 16-point home ‘chalk,’ 62-53. The combined 115 points never seriously threatened the 130-point closing total, helping the ‘under’ cash the second consecutive contest. The Buckeyes have failed to cover their past two performances.
Ohio State entered halftime trailing by three points, 26-23, but controlled the game by outscoring the Wolverines in the second half, 39-27. The Buckeyes finished the contest by controlling the boards, 32-26, while shooting 45 percent (21-of-47) from the field and 33 percent (5-of-15) from 3-point land.
Freshman forward Jared Sullinger led the charge with 19 points and 15 rebounds, recording his 10th double-double of the season. Guard William Buford was the only other player to reach double digits in scoring with 13 while also dishing out four assists.
Minnesota enters this contest mired in a two-game SU and ATS losing streak after Wednesday’s setback to Indiana as a three-point road favorite, 60-57. The combined 117 points failed to eclipse the 137-point closing total, helping the ‘under’ cash a second game in a row.
The Golden Gophers were unable to overcome a 12-point halftime deficit, 33-21, but they made the game interesting in the second half. Minnesota never led in the game, but did cut the Hoosiers lead to one late in the game. The Golden Gophers shot 37 percent (20-of-54) from the field in the setback, and 33 percent (6-of-18) from behind the arc.
Guard Blake Hoffarber paced the offense with 15 points, while forward Ralph Sampson III provided 10 and nine rebounds. Guard Austin Hollins netted 13 in the setback, while forward Trevor Mbakwe had seven and nine.
Ohio State has won the previous three meetings with Minnesota SU, while going 2-1 ATS. The Buckeyes held off the Golden Gophers in the lone encounter this season Jan. 9 as a 1½-point home ‘chalk,’ 67-64. The combined 131 points failed to topple the 137½ -point closing total, helping the ‘under’ improve to 5-2 the last seven encounters. The favorite is 9-1 ATS the past 10 games in this series, and the home team is 7-1 ATS the previous eight outings.
Ohio State follows this contest with a Feb. 12 matchup at 18th-ranked Wisconsin before hosting Michigan State three days later. The Buckeyes are 8-3 ATS their last 11 road games, while the ‘over’ is 9-4 the past 13 conference contests.
Minnesota guard Al Nolen is ‘out’ due to an injured foot. The Golden Gophers conclude a brief two-game homestand with Thursday’s outing against 24th-ranked Illinois before traveling to Iowa and Penn State. Minnesota is just 2-7 ATS its last nine home games, and 7-20 ATS the previous 27 Sunday games.
ESPN will provide coverage of Sunday’s Big Ten contest beginning at 11:00 a.m. PT from Minnesota’s Williams Arena.