The Michigan State Spartans defeated the Bucknell Bison, 82-78, on Friday, March 16 in the first round of March Madness. Bucknell covered the spread as 14.5-point underdogs while the game went over the total of 148.
The Spartans advanced to face either Syracuse or TCU in the Round of 32. Odds for that matchup will be released soon, but a good first guess is that Michigan State will be a 6-point favorite against TCU and a 10-point favorite against Syracuse, because TCU is noticeably better than Syracuse and did not have to play a First Four game in Dayton on Wednesday.
Michigan State’s best player, Miles Bridges, scored 29 points to lead the Spartans before a partisan crowd in Detroit. Joshua Langford contributed 22 points to make sure Michigan State had a formidable secondary scorer with enough options to overcome the Bison. The game ended with a meager four-point margin, but Michigan State led by 16 points near the two-minute mark of regulation. Bucknell never had a serious chance to win the game in the final minute, hitting a three at the buzzer to provide the final point spread. Michigan State went just 5 of 17 from three-point range and was outscored by six points (21-15) at the foul line, but it had enough offense near the rim to get the job done.
Michigan State dominated inside. Bucknell center Nana Foulland went just 3 of 13 from the field and could never establish himself against Michigan State’s frontcourt of Jaren Jackson and Nick Ward. It is true that Jackson scored only six points and Ward had only eight, but their physical defense kept Bucknell at bay long enough to create the large cushion into the final minutes.
Michigan State’s odds to win March Madness at BetDSI Sportsbook were at +750 before this game. With the win, that number should move to around +700 before the Round of 32 begins. TCU’s odds heading into the game against Syracuse were +17000. Syracuse’s odds were +35000 heading into the game against TCU.
