.jpg "Duke-vs.-Michigan-State-(Chicago)")
There’s no doubt that the best non-conference game of the early season will take place at The Champions Classic in the Windy City on Tuesday night. The No. 1 Duke Blue Devils and the No. 2 Michigan State Spartans are in everyone’s top three. Duke brought back Grayson Allen and added some very talented freshmen, while Michigan State returned all four of its fabulous freshmen from last season and added another star into the mix. These teams are the favorites to win it all at most sportsbooks and this might just be a preview of a Final Four showdown in early April.
This war on the floor will go down Tuesday, November 14, 2017, at 7 p.m. ET at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The game will be televised live on ESPN. We'll have NCAA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the college basketball Tuesday schedule.
Opening College Basketball Odds at BookMaker.eu
Duke had a fantastic run through the ACC Tournament that pushed the team to a No. 2 seed last season. However, the Blue Devils had the misfortune of running into a South Carolina team that caught fire at just the right time and were bounced in the second round by the eventual Final Four participants. This season, the Blue Devils are off to a strong 2-0 start but have been barely tested in two easy victories over Elon and Utah Valley.
The Spartans have only had one tune-up prior to their showdown against the Blue Devils. Michigan State was projected to do great things last season, but most of their freshmen struggled at the next level and the team just didn’t have the confidence it needed heading into March. Michigan State did win a game before being bounced, but it was still a disappointing season.
Coaching Angle
You have to consider Coach Mike Krzyzewski the best basketball coach in the modern era. With Duke’s win over Utah Valley on Saturday, Coach K became the first coach ever to win 1,000 games at one school. It was fitting that it was Coach K that was the first to accomplish this feat considering how synonymous he is with Duke basketball. He has been coaching in Durham since 1980 and has been able to win five NCAA titles during his long tenure.
Although some thought that Duke and Coach K would tail off in the one and done era, Coach K has adapted. He does prefer to have veterans on his team, but it’s hard for that to happen in this day and age with the lure of the NBA’s millions so present on everyone’s minds. This year he brought in Marvin Bagley II and the freshman has this team ready to contend for it all.
Player to Watch
If you read anything that I put out, it’s no secret that I love Miles Bridges. Bridges is the best player in the country heading into this season and it was a coup that Tom Izzo was able to get him to come back to East Lansing for one more season. There aren’t many big men who are as versatile as him, and he is the perfect swing player in the smallball era.
Bridges did it all for the Spartans last season. He was the team’s leading rebounder, leading scorer, and best player. He almost single-handedly kept Michigan State’s chances alive while his fellow classmates were floundering and the Spartans will go as far as he takes them thiss season. UNF was the first team to feel his wrath, with Bridges going 9-15 from the floor and snagging 10 rebounds, but they will be one of many by the end of the season.
Free College Basketball ATS Picks
Michigan State should have a little bit of a home court advantage just by proximity. Duke is a little more talented than the Spartans, but Sparty has more chemistry and that will be the difference maker early in the season.
College Basketball Odds: Michigan State 72, Duke 68
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