With conference play just getting underway, two of the better teams in the Big Ten matchup for the first of two meetings on the season this Monday as the No.9 Michigan State Spartans play host to the No.14 Iowa Hawkeyes.
Michigan State returns home after a difficult road trip that handed the team its second loss, falling to Louisville in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Can the return home help a sliding Spartan team get back on track or will the still undefeated Hawkeyes get the better of them in the game in East Lansing on Monday night?
Log in to BookMaker.eu for all the latest odds and for live betting opportunities on Monday night as this game is sure to provide plenty of excitement with two evenly matched teams facing off. It should be an exciting battle from tipoff until the final buzzer.
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Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Michigan State Spartans
Date and Time: Monday, December 3, 2018, 6:30 p.m. ET
Location: Breslin Student Events Center, East Lansing, Michigan
College Basketball Odds: Check Back Later
Hawkeyes vs. Spartans TV Coverage: FS1
It’s been a solid start to the season for Iowa after the team was so bad a season ago. They’re already about half way to their win total from last year and hope they can get off to a good start in Big Ten conference play.
Last year, the team really struggled defensively as teams scored 78.7 PPG against them. The offense for the Hawkeyes was there, but each game turned into a shootout. So far this season, Iowa’s been able to do a better job defending the basket though with 72 PPG allowed, the Hawkeyes are still closer to the bottom rather than the top defensively.
Fortunately for Iowa, their offense has—to this point—made up the difference. They’re scoring 85.3 PPG, ranking No.30 in college hoops.
This is a veteran team and the experience has paid off early, particularly inside. Tyler Cook and Luka Garza have been playing very well, forming a dynamic frontcourt duo. Cook leads the team with 14.8 PPG though Garza is right behind at 14.3. The two have a combined 11.5 RPG and 1.7 BPG.
On the outside, Iowa has gotten bit of a talent boost over last year from freshman Joe Wieskamp who join Jordan Bohannon, Connor McCaffery and Isaiah Moss outside. While Bohannon has 10 PPG and is second to McCaffery in APG, it’s Wieskamp and Moss who are the threats on the outside.
Iowa plays Wisconsin on Friday before the trip to Michigan State. That’ll be another strong test for a team that has already gotten wins over Oregon, Connecticut and Pittsburgh. The Oregon game was rather impressive, holding the Ducks to 69 points and shooting well outside. Against Pittsburgh, they barely squeezed by with a 69-68 win. Pittsburgh out shot and out rebounded Iowa in the game, but the Hawkeyes got the win, taking 15 more shots—and sinking 11 of them—from the free-throw line.
On the opposite side of the floor in this matchup, Michigan State comes into action having already lost a couple times.
Kansas topped the Spartans in their season opener. Given Kansas was the preseason No.1 and is still ranked No.2, it’s hard to hold that against Michigan State. It was a five-point game and the Spartans played Kansas tough. The more concerning loss, however, came on the road against Louisville.
The Spartans got into foul trouble in the game and essentially beat themselves, allowing 41 free throws. There was a six point free-throw differential in a game that was decided by four.
In that contest, the Michigan State defense didn’t do well enough and that could be an issue against a solid offensive squad in Iowa, but one that struggles defensively. It could mean a higher scoring affair.
Last year, the Spartans were an excellent defensive and offensive team, ranking second in PPG in the Big Ten and third in fewest allowed. The early returns this year have been a bit less promising defensively although at 69 PPG allowed, they’re still faring better on the defensive side of the ball than Iowa. Offensively, they’re scoring 88.1 PPG.
Individually, Michigan State is led by Joshua Langford in the backcourt with 18 PPG. He’s been an accurate shooter on the perimeter, too, with 45.5-percent shooting from three. Cassius Winston is another elite guard with 17.3 PPG, giving the Spartans an edge on the outside.
Nick Ward, Xavier Tillman and Kenny Goins all bring quality plays inside the paint to combat the tandem of Cook and Garza. Ward is a strong scorer under the basket with 13.9 PPG while Goins is averaging 10.1 rebounds and Tillman is a strong rebounder and blocker which will be key.
Live Betting
This game pins the preseason favorites from the Big Ten against one of the team’s projected to finish at or near the bottom of the conference by most, but Iowa has—to this point—far exceeded expectations. A win, or even a tight battle against a team like the Spartans, would be a big statement for the Hawkeyes.
Key to that statement is going to be the defense for Iowa and the strength of the frontcourt. Michigan State has Langford and Winston who are going to dominant on the perimeter, but Cook and Garza have a chance to bridge that gap a bit if they can win the battles inside.
In the end, while Iowa’s defense is better this year that last, it’s still an area of concern and exploitable one for Michigan State. Look for the defense to ultimately be the downfall for Iowa. But before it’s all said and done, there should be plenty of excellent live betting opportunities at BookMaker.eu in this one.
Key Player
Tyler Cook is the best player on the court for Iowa, making him key to this game against a Michigan State team that came into the season favored in the Big Ten.
With Langford and Winston, the Spartans should dominate on the outside and while Wieskamp, Bohannon and company are fine options outside, this Iowa team needs to win the battles inside while doing its best to hang on the perimeter. This isn’t a great outside shooting team. Defensively, they fall short outside, too.
If Iowa is to hang with Michigan State in this one, the frontcourt will have to be the reason why. Garza is a good player, but Cook is averaging more time on the court, producing just as many points and providing more rebounds than anyone on the team.
He’s the leader and he needs to play like it. He’s an NBA caliber talent with the ability to be big things. He’s good off the dribble. He can set up his teammates with assists, too.
In their biggest win to date, toppling Oregon, he didn’t shoot that well, but had 10 rebounds to help the Hawkeyes win the boards.
Hawkeyes vs. Spartans Live Betting
Iowa has been impressive early and have elevated their stock considerably from the preseason when the Hawkeyes were viewed as an afterthought, but this—ultimately—is still a below-average defensive squad with some talent and upside on offense. The defensive shortcomings are real and will manifest themselves against the best of the best.
Look for a higher scoring game on Monday between Iowa and Michigan State, but look for the Spartans to get a few more blocks and rebounds while putting the Hawkeyes in position for lower percentage shots that’ll ultimately allow the Spartans to get the win.
While Michigan State has had a few early bumps in the road, they’re the home team in this one and they’ve got the better, more complete roster. Look for Iowa to keep it close for a while, but ultimately take the Michigan State to come away victorious.
Check out all of the live betting at BookMaker.eu for Monday’s college basketball action.
NCAA Basketball Score Prediction: Michigan State 86, Iowa 74
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