NCAA Tournament Odds: Michigan State vs. Maryland
Sunday, March 21, 2010
by Bodog Sportsbook
I would argue that Sunday’s second-round matchup between No. 5 Michigan State Spartans and No. 4 Maryland Terrapins is the most evenly matched game in the Round of 32, and in fact this game is currently a pick’em on Bodog Sportsbook’s college basketball odds.
The Michigan State Spartans (25-8, 12-20 ATS) beat New Mexico State 70-67 on Friday night behind Kalin Lucas’ career-high 25 points – MSU blew a 13-point halftime lead and got a bit of a gift at the free-throw line in the final seconds. However, Michigan State Spartans starting guards Lucas and Chris Allen were both injured in the game. Lucas tweaked his ankle but played through it, while Allen hurt his right ankle with about five minutes left. He didn’t return to the game but expects to play on Sunday.
But if Allen is limited that could be key because he is MSU’s best perimeter defender and likely would draw the assignment on ACC Player of the Year Greivis Vasquez of the Terps. Maryland Terrapins (24-8, 17-10 ATS) beat Houston 89-77 on Friday despite Vazquez hitting just 5-for-13 from the field. Jordan Williams stepped up with career-highs of 21 points and 17 rebounds on Friday, but the Terps won’t beat Michigan State Spartans if Vasquez doesn’t have a big game. Maryland also outrebounded Houston 50-29, but Michigan State is one of the best rebounding teams in the country (plus-8.8 margin, second in the country), so that won’t happen again. The Michigan State Spartans will slow this game down and won’t let Vasquez beat them. If Lucas and Allen are OK, they should win.
Friday’s MSU win over NMSU was the Spartans’ first NCAA Tournament game decided by three points or fewer since they beat Maryland Terrapins 60-58 in 2003.
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maryland terrapins - michigan state spartans - ncaa tournament