Raise your hand if you’re sick and tired of tried and true power programs always getting a pass when it comes to seeding in the NCAA tournament. I’m firmly aware of the month of March being Tom Izzo’s time to shine, but he’ll likely even tell you that his No. 7 Michigan State Spartans deserve to be a double-digit seed in this year’s tournament. Sorry, but Sparty stunk out loud this season, and nobody save for those currently residing in East Lansing or with ties to the University want to see this team advance past the first round. I can’t and won’t say that about Bob McKillop’s Davidson Wildcats who were by far the cream of a competitive Atlantic 10 crop in 2021-22. It’s telling that a team from a power conference more or less finds themselves in a pick ‘em game at online sportsbooks against an opponent from a perceived lesser conference. Things have gone off the rails for the Spartans in recent seasons, and I don’t think this year’s squad has it in them to end the futility. I not only think Davidson wins this matchup, but also believe they give Coach K a run for his money next. Sharpie the Wildcats into the second round!
Take this First Round matchup in live on CBS at 9:40 p.m. ET from the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC on Friday, March 18, 2022. BookMaker.eu will have NCAA basketball odds available for this and every game lined up for today’s NCAA Tournament schedule.
NCAA Tournament Odds at BookMaker.eu
Davidson Wildcats +1
Michigan State Spartans -1
Total 140
Odds Analysis
How embarrassing! Sparty hit the board as 2-point neutral court favorites with the total set at 141. The number to beat has already been bet down a full point, and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if the game went off the board with the No. 10 seeded Wildcats installed a short chalk. MSU was largely mediocre this season in going 20-11 SU and 15-15-1 ATS with it splitting all six of its road games. The team only managed four wins and three point spread covers in its final 11 regular season games with only a 65-63 win coming away from the Breslin Center. Davidson enters this tilt in much better form even though it choked away the A10 tournament title in the closing minutes against Richmond. Backed by one of the nation’s most lethal offenses, the Wildcats were money for college hoops bettors in covering 20 of their 33 played games. The total has been bet down a full point though heavier -112 juice remains attached to the over.
Davidson Wildcats
It’s never fun getting replaced by someone else be it at a job, in government - or in Foster Loyer’s case - as the main ball distributor for the Michigan State Spartans. Yes, you read that correctly. Loyer spent three seasons in East Lansing and was set to run Sparty’s attack this season up until Izzo hit the transfer portal and brought Tyson Walker in to replace him. Loyer will have an opportunity to make Izzo rue the day he decided to do so. With MSU trotting out one of the leakier defenses the B1G has to offer, he’s going to be in a position to make good on his personal revenge spot and help lead the Wildcats to victory. Look for Loyer and the rest of Davidson’s long-range sharpshooters to make quick work of a Sparty’s spotty 3-point defense (No. 60) en route to advancing to the next round.
Michigan State Spartans
When the 3-ball is dropping for the Spartans, they’re an entirely different animal to contend with. The problem is it doesn’t fall with any sort of consistency. Case in point the Big Ten tournament; Max Christie and Gabe Brown helped lead the Spartans to a 47 percent showing from beyond the arc in the 76-72 win and cover against Maryland. It then went on to convert just 1-of-11 long range shots in a surprising 69-63 upset of Wisconsin in the quarters. A wretched shooting performance from the Badgers allowed it to occur. Then in its 75-70 loss and cover against Purdue in the semis, it drained seven 3-balls but took 25 attempts which resulted in a gross 25 percent success rate. If they fail to drop against Davidson, they’ll have no shot!
Betting Prediction
I’m firmly aware that the month of March is not the time to get in front of Tom Izzo. That being said, I’m going to do just that and do it confidently. For my money, the Spartans deserve to be playing in the NIT instead of the Big Dance. The team’s best wins occurred at the beginning of the season before Loyola Chicago and UConn started to figure things out. I’m not sold on the Big Ten being the powerhouse it normally is this time of year. My immediate run-through of the bracket had two Big Ten teams in the Sweet 16 – them being Wisconsin and Illinois – and I initially had Houston in before second guessing myself. I reserve the right to change my mind again. Make no bones about it, Davidson is an excellently coached team that sports an offense that can and will be able to take it to Sparty right from the opening tip. This has the look of a back-and-forth high scoring affair with body blows landed throughout. As poorly MSU closed the regular season out and luck-boxed its way to the B1G tourney semis, I’m of the belief Davidson puts it out of its misery in short order.
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