The Big Ten is loaded with March Madness hopefuls this season, and two of them will square off on Thursday as Michigan State will host Iowa. The game is scheduled for 7 pm ET while airing on FS1. Michigan State enters this game as 3-point favorites with the total set at 147.5. How will this one play out? Let’s dive into the Michigan State vs. Iowa predictions below.
Michigan State vs. Iowa Odds
- Spread: Michigan State -3
- Total: 147.5
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Game Info
- Date: Thursday, Jan. 27
- Time: 7 pm ET
- Location: Breslin Center — East Lansing, MI
- TV: FS1
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Michigan State Betting Trends
- Spartans are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games.
- Spartans are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up loss.
- Under is 4-0 in Spartans last 4 home games.
Iowa Betting Trends
- Hawkeyes are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- Hawkeyes are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 road games.
- Over is 5-1 in Hawkeyes last 6 overall.
Michigan State vs. Iowa Game Preview
The Michigan State Spartans are currently in a bit of a rough patch, having lost three of their last four games, which came on the heels of a seven-game winning streak. However, maybe we should take that with a grain of salt, as these losses were against teams that are currently ranked in the top 26 according to Kenpom.com. Michigan State forward Malik Hall has been sidelined since Jan. 16 with a foot injury, and it would be a huge surprise if he returned for this matchup.
On the other hand, the Iowa Hawkeyes are ranked No. 35 (per KenPom) and have had a mix of success recently, having won four consecutive games before losing their last match on the road against Ohio State. They also had a game postponed (vs. Northwestern) due to COVID-19 issues. Iowa is known for having one of the best offenses in the country, ranking at No. 5 in adjusted offensive efficiency according to Kenpom, and the highest-scoring offense in the Big Ten. However, they also have a weak defense, giving up more points than any other team in Big Ten games and ranking 146th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency.
Outside of a win at Rutgers, the Hawkeyes have been a bad road team. Iowa lost by 16 at Nebraska – one of the worst teams in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes also fell at Penn State on Jan. 1. With that in mind, it’s hard to believe that Iowa pull out a gritty road victory in one of the toughest away environments it has seen this season.
Michigan State vs. Iowa Predictions
This is a veteran Michigan State team that should be able to slow down Iowa’s prolific offense just enough. From there, the Spartans should use the energy of the home crowd to put them over the top. Michigan State has looked very good at home this season, with their only recent home loss coming in a 64-63 heartbreaker against No. 1 Purdue. On the flip side, Iowa has struggled on the road. Those trends will likely hold on Thursday, as the Spartans should show up in front of their loyal fans.
The Pick: Michigan State -3 | -110 at FanDuel Sportsbook
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