Michigan State vs. Maryland Pick
Will No. 6 Michigan State shake off the outside turmoil around the school when the Spartans go on the road to face Maryland today at 1PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Michigan State is favored on the road today, as the Spartans are getting odds of -5.5 points against Maryland. The over/under total for the contest has yet to be set. Today’s game takes place from the XFINITY Center in College Park, Maryland and will air live on CBS.
Michigan State has won three straight coming into today’s game, but the school and team has been distracted by recent allegations from ESPN Outside the Lines. They picked up a 76-61 win over Wisconsin on Friday at home, but failed to cover the 17-point spread. The Spartans are now 19-3 overall, 7-2 in the Big Ten and 13-9 against the spread. MSU is averaging 84.9 points per game on offense while allowing 64 per game on defense. The Spartans are led by Miles Bridges, who is averaging 18 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while Nick Ward is adding 14 points and 7.7 rebounds per contest.
Maryland is coming off a 71-68 loss at Indiana this week for its third loss in four games. The Terrapins are 15-7 overall, 4-5 in the Big Ten and 11-7 against the spread. Maryland is averaging 76.3 points per game on offense while giving up 67.1 per contest. Anthony Cowan is leading Maryland this season with 16.4 points and 4.8 assists per contest while Kevin Huerter is adding 14.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per contest.
Bet on Michigan State vs. Maryland
Michigan State has won four of its last five meetings with Maryland, including a 91-61 win in East Lansing on Jan. 4. The Spartans steamrolled Maryland in the first meeting, but I think the Terps will bounce back this time. MSU has been a mess with turnovers and their offense struggles on the road. The Spartans average just 71 per game on the road. Maryland averages close to 80 at home. Unless MSU has fixed its turnover issue, which I don’t think it will have, I look for the Terps to cover and maybe win outright.
CBB DAILY PREDICTION: MARYLAND +5.5