UCLA Bruins vs Michigan State Spartans Betting Picks, Odds & Predictions
The last game of the First Four is a real treat for all fans. We’ll see two traditional college basketball powerhouses square off for a chance to enter the First Round. Two 11th seeds, UCLA and Michigan State will decide who will face the No6 seed, BYU. Both teams have a rich and storied tournament history. The Bruins won the NCAA Tournament 11 times, more than any other school. The Spartans have been in the Final Four seven times in the last 22 years. UCLA finished fourth in the Pac-12 and is entering the Thursday game on a 4-game losing streak. Michigan State also had a disappointing campaign by their standards finishing 9th in the Big Ten. It was the first sub-.500 season in head coach Tom Izzo’s career.
UCLA Bruins vs Michigan State Spartans Betting Line Movement
Even though the UCLA Bruins had a better season, oddsmakers are favoring the Michigan State Spartans in this one. Izzo’s tournament record is hard to overlook and the Spartans are entering the game as -2 favorites. The line opened at -1, but some early action on the Spartans moved it up a bit. The total opened at 137.5 but has dropped slightly since. At the moment, it stands at 135 at most bookies.
Notes On The UCLA Bruins
Down the stretch, the Bruins looked like anything but a good basketball team. In addition to losing the last four, UCLA failed to cover in seven consecutive games. They’re currently 3-11 ATS in the last 14 games. However, they looked pretty decent earlier in the season. They opened the Pac-12 play with 8 straight wins. If they manage to regain some of that form they may stand a chance on Thursday. They do have a balanced offense with 6 players averaging over 10 points per game. Besides, over the last seven games, they’re shooting around 50% from the field. The defense would use a bit more aggressiveness, especially since the Spartans are very prone to turnovers.
The key players for the Bruins are two sophomore guards. Johnny Juzang is the leading scorer averaging 14.5 ppg. Juzang is capable of taking over the games and has scored over 25 points four times this season. The assist leader is Tyger Campbell 5.6 dishes per game. His assist-to-turnover ratio is 2.79, which ranks him 24th in Division I.
Notes On The Michigan State Spartans
Only two years after the appearance in the Final Four, the Spartans finished 9th in the Big Ten. They opened the conference play with a 4-9 record but have improved later in the season. Their campaign was one of inconsistency, full of ups and downs. They showed that they can beat anyone, notching wins against Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio State. But, they also can lose to anyone. Losses to the likes of Rutgers, Minnesota, or Northwestern were hardly expected. The main issue for Michigan State this season of the lack of consistent scoring. The Spartans have only one player averaging double digits. Besides, they’re often careless with the ball leading to a huge number of turnovers. In their last game, against Maryland, they turned the ball over 18 times They have been better on defense, especially in protecting the rim. KenPom ranks them 32nd in adjusted defensive efficiency.
The undisputable first name on the Spartans team sheet is junior forward Aaron Henry. He leads the team in almost every statistical category. Henry averages 15.3 points and 3.5 assists per game. He’s also the team leader in minutes and steals, and second in rebounds and blocks.
UCLA Bruins vs Michigan State Spartans Betting Prediction: Spartans -2
A lot of Michigan State’s bad results can be credited to the strength of the Big Ten conference. The team has been showing signs of improvement lately, while the Bruins are moving in the opposite direction. Besides, it’s never a good idea to bet against Tom Izzo in the tournament.
