Big Ten Tournament: Minnesota vs. Michigan State odds, picks and predictions
The Minnesota Golden Gophers (18-13) and Michigan State Spartans (18-13) meet in the 2nd round of the Big Ten Tournament Thursday at Target Center in Minneapolis. Tip-off is scheduled for noon ET (Big Ten Network). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Minnesota vs. Michigan State odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
The 9th-seeded Golden Gophers fizzled down the stretch, dropping 4 of the final 5 regular-season games, while failing to cover the final 3 outings. Minnesota has allowed 70 or more points in 9 straight games since a 59-56 win over Michigan State on Feb. 6 as a 3.5-point underdog.
Eighth-seeded Michigan State also had issues while wrapping up the regular season, losing 4 of the final 5 outings, while also going 1-4 against the spread (ATS). The Under is on a 5-1 run heading into the Big Ten Tournament, too.
The teams split the regular-season series, with the home team winning each meeting. The Golden Gophers have covered 3 in a row, and 4 of the past 5 meetings, and the underdog is also 4-1 ATS in the past 5 in the series. The Over is 3-1 in the past 4 meetings, too.
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Minnesota vs. Michigan State odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 9:03 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Minnesota +260 ($100 to win $260) | Michigan State -350 (bet $350 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Minnesota +7.5 (-115) | Michigan State -7.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 135.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Minnesota vs. Michigan State picks and predictions
Prediction
Minnesota 67, Michigan State 65
Moneyline
MINNESOTA (+260) is a value play, for the opportunity to multiply your initial wager by more than 2 1/2 times. This will essentially be a home game, with the Golden Gophers playing at the nearby Target Center in this one.
Neither team has been playing particularly well lately, and this is more of a toss-up than the books might believe.
Against the spread
MINNESOTA +7.5 (-115) is a strong play catching nearly 4 buckets if you can't bring yourself to roll the dice on the Golden Gophers straight up.
Remember, the last time these teams played in the Twin Cities, Minnesota came away with the victory. And Minnesota is 3-0 ATS in the previous 3 meetings, and 4-1 ATS in the previous 5 installments.
Michigan State -7.5 (-105) is 1-2 ATS in 3 neutral-site games. There is concern for Minnesota, though, as it has not only lost 4 of the past 5 games to finish the regular season, but the Golden Gophers lost by 12 or more points in 3 of those games, so don't get too carried away. Of course, Sparty is also 1-4 ATS in the past 5 games, so it's a bit of a wash.
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Over/Under
UNDER 135.5 (-115) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.
The total has gone low in 5 of the past 6 games for Michigan State, while cashing at a 8-3 clip in the previous 11 outings. That includes the most recent battle against Minnesota on Feb. 6. Meanwhile, Minnesota has cashed the Under in 3 of the past 5 games.
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