NCAA PERFECT PLAY MASTERPIECE (78% streak)
- Handicapper
- Wayne Root
- League
- NCAAB
- Competition
- Michigan State vs Kansas State
- Time
- 03/23/2023 06:30 PM
- Bet Type
- Point Spread
- Pick
-
Michigan State -1.5 (-110)
(Consensus 3)
- Outcome
- Loss
- Analysis
- Gold Standard on Michigan St
There is no denying Tom Izzo's track record of success in March as the head coach of Michigan State, and the respect he gets in the markets this time of year is tremendous. But Kansas St is getting the public money.
Izzo got his guys to put on a master class defensively so far in this tournament, allowing 62 and 60 points in the two wins. Izzo has scheduled very tough non-conference November's and December's for his teams for years now, and it seemingly continues to pay off in March every year. This year is no different. The oddsmakers set the lines almost perfectly. Without question this Kansas State team has felt like they've been disrespected all tournament, and this point spread in the Sweet Sixteen with them as underdogs as the #3 seed is just another example of it. That’s why the public is buying the Kansas St storyline. That and the grind from the Big 12 conference. Let’s watch the oddsmakers get the last laugh on MSU being the favorite as Izzo pulls another “Mr March”. In fairness, one of the Wildcats worse roles this year was as an underdog – 7-8 ATS – and they did have an average margin of victory of -3.4 points/game in those contests.
USC nor Marquette could not knock down the shots against Michigan State because of the defense. With a berth to the Elite Eight on the line, guys are going to trust to be able to control what they can control, and the top thing on that list is bringing energy on defense. Shots may not always be falling, but if you can be focused and engaged on every defensive possession, the opponent is going to have a tough time seeing enough shots fall to beat you.
