The No. 13-ranked Michigan State Spartans (3-0) look to extend their hot start when they meet the Eastern Michigan Eagles (2-1) at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Action starts at 7:00 pm ET on Monday, Nov. 23 and will air on BTN.
The Spartans dismantled Arkansas-Pine Bluff 92-46 on Friday. With 10 points and 10 rebounds, Matt Costello recorded his first double-double this season. The Eagles, meanwhile, are coming off a 79-34 win against Siena Heights on Friday. Willie Mangum IV led the game in scoring with 29 points on 12-for-15 shooting.
Michigan State is a heavy 18-point favorite in this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 140 points. The Spartans come into this game unbeaten with a 3-0 record Straight Up (SU) and 2-0 Against The Spread (ATS). Michigan State is known to control the offensive glass, where they rack up an impressive 15.3 offensive rebounds per game. The Spartans, sporting the 33rd-best assist-to-turnover ratio in Division I (1.65), have proven themselves to be an extremely efficient offensive team. Crossing over to the defensive side of the court, the Michigan State defense has been very good, only giving up 58.0 points per game. Opposing offenses have been stifled by the Spartans, allowing a field goal percentage of only .349. The Spartans are the third-best team in the country at blocking shots, averaging 8.3 blocks per game.
Over on the other bench, it’s hard to argue with the ATS failures of Eastern Michigan. The Eagles are clearly doing something wrong with a 0-1 record ATS to go along with a 2-1 record SU so far. They average 13.0 steals per game, good for fourth in the nation.
Michigan State and Eastern Michigan will be squaring off for the first time this season. In their most recent meeting a season ago, Eastern Michigan came out on top, bumping its SU record to 3-0 over the Eagles. The Spartans also hold the advantage ATS with a record of 3-0.
Predictions: SU Winner – MSU, ATS Winner – MSU, O/U – Under
Notes
Michigan State is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games.
Michigan State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home.
Michigan State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Eastern Michigan.
Eastern Michigan averages 76.7 points per game, placing the team just 153rd in the nation. Michigan State ranks 18th in points allowed, giving up 58.0 points per game.
Ranked 11th, the Eastern Michigan Eagles have one of the top defenses in the country, giving up just 76.9 points per 100 possessions. The Michigan State Spartans rank 27th in offense, scoring 122.3 points in the same number of possessions.
The Eastern Michigan Eagles average 78.1 possessions per game and .981 points per possession. The Michigan State Spartans earn fewer possessions with 68.9, but they score more points with 1.223.
Michigan State attempts an average of 20.0 three pointers per game and Eastern Michigan attempts 16.0. In games where they have 20 or more three point attempts, the Michigan State Spartans are undefeated at 2-0 while the Eastern Michigan Eagles are winless at 0-1.
Michigan State ranks 33rd in the nation with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.65. Eastern Michigan is ranked lower at 263rd with an A/TO of .85.
Michigan State, the 15th-ranked team in rebounding, registers an average of 47.7 rebounds per game. Eastern Michigan ranks 56th with 43.7.
Eastern Michigan ranks 160th in offensive rebounds, while Michigan State ranks at 22nd in defensive rebounds.
Michigan State has forced an average turnover rate of 16.0% this season. In games where its turnover rate is 16.0% or higher, Eastern Michigan is an even 1-1.
