The Minnesota Golden Gophers (15-5) have salvaged their season winning 3straight games and losing their previous 4 and they have a legit chance to crackthe top 25 if they can beat the 11th ranked Michigan State Spartans in this Big 10match up.

Michigan State fell in the rankings a bit, as they lost 2 games last week, but theyare coming off a solid blowout win in their last game. One key for the GoldenGophers in this game will be to slow the pace, as they only rank 193rd in thenation in scoring while the Spartans rank 38th. Against teams ranked in the top 25this season Minnesota is 1-1.

The Spartans won both games against the Golden Gophers last season.

Over the weekend Michigan State easily beat Purdue 83-58 and Minnesota alsohad an easy time with a 75-52 win over Northwestern.

Both of these teams have been decent wagering ones on the season with MSUat 11-6 ATS with an Over/Under record of 9-7 and Minnesota is 9-7-1 ATS andthey have an Over/Under record of 8-8.

Minnesota F Rodney Williams (10.6 ppg 6 rpg) and G Julian Welch (10.6 ppg)have really stepped up in the last few games since the team lost Trevor Mbakwe,who led the team in scoring and rebounding, for the season with a knee injury.These 2 are the only guys averaging in double digits and they must carry theoffense in this big conference game.

Draymond Green (15 ppg 10.2 rpg) is the big gun for the Spartans, but in his last2 games he has only combined to score 15 points. If he struggles again KeithAppling (12.6 ppg), Brandon Wood (9.6 ppg), and the duo of Branden Dawson(8.2 ppg) and Derrick Nix (8.2 ppg) must step up.

Minnesota will be dealing with a Spartans team that shot a lights out FG% of60% in the win over Penn State and they have to play good all-around D, asMSU has a solid inside-outside game. The Golden Gophers must make theSpartans take tough shots, as MSY ranks 22nd in the nation in FG%.

While holding Green in check on offense it may be more important for them tokeep him off the boards. They will need to man up as a team since they only rank193rd in the nation in rebounds per game.

Minnesota vs. Michigan State Betting Trends

Minnesota is 5-12-1 ATS in their last 18 vs. Big Ten, 5-2 ATS in their last 7games overall, and they have an Over record of 5-1 in their last 6 road games.

Michigan State is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games, 10-4 ATS in their last 14games overall, and they have an Over record of 6-0 in their last 6 home games.

Michigan State is 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games against Minnesota.

The Spartans will be pretty big home favorites in this game andwhile I think they will win the Golden Gophers will keep it close at, at least, coverthe spread.

• Share |