Balanced against the arrival of Richard Pitino as Minnesota head coach in 2013 was his last name. Pitino is the name most associated with Richard’s father Rick. Namely, Rick Pitino is the highly controversial and scandal stained winner of two national championships with seven Final Fours. Richard has had modest success with the NCAA basketball championship odds at Minnesota with three Big Dance invites during his tenure. But he has been nowhere near a Final Four run. Contrarily Michigan State’s Tom Izzo has eight Final Four appearances with a national title. MSU opened the season as a championship favorite.
Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Michigan State Spartans
| Date and Time: | Thursday, January 9, 2020, 9 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Breslin Center, East Lansing, Michigan |
| Minnesota vs. Michigan State TV Coverage: | ESPN |
| Minnesota vs. Michigan State NCAA Betting Online Odds at SBG: | Click Here |
Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Michigan State Spartans Overview
Michigan State has an online betting record of 12-3 straight up, 7-8 vs. the odds, and 9-5 over the total. Overall the Spartans have national metrics of 13th for scoring offense and 75th for points allowed. So too is Sparty dominating on the boards with a ranking of fifth for offensive rebounds. MSU is the first-place team in the Big Ten Conference.
Counter to that is a Golden Gopher mark of 8-6 straight up, 9-5 on the board with 6-8 under the total. Minnesota ranks 116th for scoring offense and 115th for points allowed. Late on the Gophers have gone over the total in four of their last five.
Key Golden Gophers: C Daniel Oturu (19.1 PTS, 12.4 REB, 63.3 FGPCT, 73.0 FTPCT, 31.8 3PPCT), G Marcus Carr (15.9 PTS, 5.5 REB, 6.9 AST, 37.4 FGPCT, 72.6 FTPCT, 30.9 3PPCT), G Gabe Kalscheur (13.4 PTS, 2.4 REB, 40.1 FGPCT, 75.0 FTPCT, 36.7 3PPCT)
Key Spartans: G Cassius Winston (18.9 PTS, 6.3 AST, 44.1 FGPCT, 84.6 FTPCT, 38.3 3PPCT), F Xavier Tillman (13.9 PTS, 9.8 REB, 2.9 AST, 55.8 FGPCT, 65.7 FTPCT, 34.6 3PPCT), F Aaron Henry (10.2 PTS, 4.4 REB, 3.0 AST, 47.3 FGPCT, 73.5 FTPCT, 34.1 3PPCT),
Minnesota and Michigan State vs. the Spread
The Golden Gophers are:
- 6-4 against the spread in their last 10 away games
- 1-9 under the total when playing on the road
- 7-4-1 vs. the odds as an underdog
- 3-5 under the total in their last eight games getting points
- 2-10 on the board in their last 12 away games vs. Michigan State
- 2-9 under the total at the Breslin Center
The Spartans are:
- 15-5 against the spread in their last 20 games at the Breslin Center
- 6-2 over the total on their home court
- 4-1 on the board in their last five games as a favorite
- 5-2 over the total as a chalk
- 7-3 vs. the odds in their last 10 games against Minnesota
- 1-6 under the total head to head against the Golden Gophers
Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Michigan State Spartans CBB Betting Odds Picks
As was previously noted the Spartans dominate this head to head series with Minnesota. Furthermore, Michigan State is the far more serious NCAA basketball championship odds contender. On the whole, Minnesota is a pretty good program. Michigan State is a Big Ten powerhouse.
Minnesota vs. Michigan State NCAA Betting Online Pick: Michigan State Spartans
Minnesota vs. Michigan State Score Prediction: Michigan State 88, Minnesota 69