GAME:  #837 Michigan St. vs #838 Minnesota
TIME:    12/28/2020 – 8:00p EST
SPREAD:   Michigan State -2.5
TOTAL:      159

The #12 Michigan State Spartans (6-2, 0-2) have a BIG 10 road game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-1, 1-1) at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Monday at 8 p.m. EST. Michigan State lost to Wisconsin by a score of 76-85 in its last outing while the Golden Gophers defeated #4 Iowa in overtime by a score of 102-95. Michigan State is looking for its 6th straight win over Minnesota. The Spartans have won by an average of 22 points in the last 5 wins over the Golden Gophers.

MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS

The Michigan State Spartans are averaging 81.3 points per game on 47% field goal shooting adding 8.9 three-pointers on 36.8% shooting. The Spartans are allowing 74.8 points per game on 42.4% field goal shooting.  The Spartans are forcing 10.6 turnovers per game adding 7.4 steals and 2.4 blocks.

MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are averaging 84.7 points per game on 42.8% field goal shooting adding eight 3-pointers on 31.9% shooting. On the defensive end, the Golden Gophers are allowing 75.9 points per game on 41.6% field goal shooting while forcing 15.3 turnovers and adding 5.1 steals and 1.8 blocks per game. 

TRENDS(covers.com)

MICHIGAN STATE

• The Spartans are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
• The Spartans are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games following an ATS loss.
• The Spartans are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 Monday games.
• The Spartans are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight-up loss.
• The Spartans are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games.

MINNESOTA

• Over is 5-0 in Golden Gophers last 5 overall.
• Over is 4-0 in Golden Gophers last 4 games following a straight-up win.
• Over is 4-0 in Golden Gophers last 4 home games.

HEAD TO HEAD

• The favorite is 7-0 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
• The home team is 11-4 ATS in the last 15 meetings.

MICHIGAN STATE vs MINNESOTA PREDICTION

The Michigan State Spartans and Tom Izzo have owned the Golden Gophers and Patino winning 8 of the last 10 games. These Spartans have won the last 5 meetings by double-digits while holding Minnesota to less than 60 points in all 5 games. Typically when a team is coming off a big win like Minnesota just had over Iowa they are in a letdown spot whereas the Spartans coming off a big home loss to the Badgers will be hungry for a win. The Spartans will have no problem getting there 70+ points but the Golden Gophers will have a hard time scoring. The public is leaning towards Michigan State but after the line went from +1 to -2.5 the public is starting to take a closer look at Minnesota while the early sharps pounded that Spartans +1 line to bring it to where it is now. The Bookie is rolling with the Spartans to Cover the -2.5 point spread and keep the total Under. 

BETTING ANGLES:

The Bookie:         Michigan St. -2.5 / Under 159
Fade the Public:  Minnesota / Over
Sharp Action:      Michigan St / Under