The Second Round of the NCAA Tournament heats up with a showdown between two college basketball blue-bloods when the seventh-seeded Michigan State Spartans (23-12) clash with the two-seeded Duke Blue Devils (29-6) in the West Region. Michigan State knocked off Davidson in the opener while the Blue Devils defeated Cal State Fullerton.
Sunday’s contest tips off at 5:15 p.m. EST inside the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C. The game will be televised on CBS. The Blue Devils are a 6.5-point favorite, and the over-under total is 144.5 points.
What to Know – #7 Michigan State Spartans
The Spartans are in their 24th-straight NCAA Tournament and can advance to the Sweet 16 for just the second time in seven years with a win over the Blue Devils. Michigan State finished in a tie for seventh place in the Big Ten during the regular season. The Spartans are ranked 39th in the KenPom and 36th in the NCAA NET rankings.
On offense, the Spartans score 72.1 points per game, thanks to 45.7% shooting from the floor and 37.4% shooting from the arc. Michigan State’s defense surrenders 68.6 points per game, 41.7% shooting from the field, and 31.5% shooting from deep.
The Spartans escaped the opener against Davidson thanks to a pair of clutch free throws in the closing seconds by Tyson Walker. Joey Hauser scored a career-high 27 points for Michigan State, hitting 9-of-12 shots. A.J. Hoggard chipped in 14, and Gabe Brown added 12.
Michigan State is 19-16 against the spread with a 6-3 record on a neutral floor. The Spartans own a 4-2 mark ATS over their last six contests against ACC opponents.
What to Know – #2 Duke Blue Devils
Duke is back, and eager for a deep March Madness run after missing the NCAA Tournament last year for the first time since 1995. Head coach Mike Krzyzewski is coaching in his final season after 42 seasons at Duke. The Blue Devils rank 11th in the KenPom and 12th in the NET rankings.
Duke averages 80.1 points per game offensively, hitting 49.0% of its shots from the field and 36.9% from the 3-point line. On defense, the Blue Devils limit opponents to 67.0 points per game, 41.5% shooting from the floor, and 31.4% from three.
All five starters scored in double-figures as the Blue Devils dashed any chances of an early exit against the Titans. Paolo Banchero picked up a double-double with a team-high 17 points and ten rebounds. Mark Williams scored 15 points, missing just one (6-of-7) shoot attempt from the floor.
The Blue Devils are 17-15-3 ATS and 2-4 at a neutral location. Duke has failed to cover the spread in its last five attempts.
The Pick is In
A classic showdown between a pair of Hall of Fame coaches is in store for college basketball fans on Sunday. MSU head coach Tom Izzo is only 3-12 against Coach K all-time.
Duke looked the part on Friday but never put the Titans away like many thought. There is a talent discrepancy between these two teams, but Izzo will have a gameplan ready to challenge the Blue Devils and keep it close.
Betting Pick: Michigan State Spartans +6.5
