Best bets for MSU-Bryant NCAA Tournament matchup on Friday
Michigan State basketball has opened as a sizable favorite over Bryant in Friday's first round matchup of the NCAA Tournament.
The Spartans will battle the Bulldogs late on Friday night from Cleveland. Tipoff is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET and the game will be televised on TBS.
Michigan State comes into this game as a double-digit favorite and the obvious choice by many to advance to the second round of the tournament. Bryant, however, possess some challenges and boasts some star scorers -- including Rafael Pinzon, who averaged nearly 20 points per game this season.
We are still a few days away from tip off between Michigan State and Bryant, but here's the betting details and my early prediction for this NCAA Tournament matchup:
Michigan State vs. Bryant game odds:
All college basketball odds via BetMGM:
Point spread: Michigan State minus-17 1/2
Money line: Michigan State minus-3000 / Bryant plus-1200
Over/under: 152 1/2
Michigan State vs. Bryant prediction, pick
It's early into my matchup analysis process but I think overall this is decent pairing for the Spartans. Bryant possess a potent scoring attack but I feel confident that Michigan State defensively can grind away at them. Depth will also be a big advantage for the Spartans, as the Bulldogs don't get a ton of production outside of its starting five. This should be a game the Spartans win going away in the second half.
Prediction: Michigan State 84, Bryant 65
Michigan State vs. Bryant channel, start time, streaming:
The Michigan State-Bryant game starts at approximately 10 p.m. ET on Friday and can be seen on TBS.
Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn't influence our coverage.
Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Michigan State football included in ESPN's preseason bowl projections
One of the two experts at ESPN has the Spartans bowling this season. ESPN has released their preseason bowl projections, and one of the two writers included in the projections has the Spartans reaching the postseason this fall. That would be Mark Schlabach, while Kyle Bonagura has Michigan State failing to reach bowl eligibility for a fourth straight season. Schlabach has Michigan State landing in the nearby GameAbove Sports Bowl in Detroit. His projected matchup for the Spartans is against Ohio out of the Mid-American Conference. Michigan State comes into this season with a win total over/under of 5.5, signifying the Spartans will be right on the fringe of reaching the postseason. The Spartans went 5-7 last season in year one under head coach Jonathan Smith, but expectations have been raised this year with fans expecting a bowl berth from the Spartans. Michigan State opens the 2025 season next week against Western Michigan. Kickoff from Spartan Stadium on August 29 is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5. This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: MSU football included in ESPN's preseason bowl projections
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Michigan State football included in ESPN's preseason bowl projections
One of the two experts at ESPN has the Spartans bowling this season. ESPN has released their preseason bowl projections, and one of the two writers included in the projections has the Spartans reaching the postseason this fall. That would be Mark Schlabach, while Kyle Bonagura has Michigan State failing to reach bowl eligibility for a fourth straight season. Schlabach has Michigan State landing in the nearby GameAbove Sports Bowl in Detroit. His projected matchup for the Spartans is against Ohio out of the Mid-American Conference. Michigan State comes into this season with a win total over/under of 5.5, signifying the Spartans will be right on the fringe of reaching the postseason. The Spartans went 5-7 last season in year one under head coach Jonathan Smith, but expectations have been raised this year with fans expecting a bowl berth from the Spartans. Michigan State opens the 2025 season next week against Western Michigan. Kickoff from Spartan Stadium on August 29 is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
Associated Press
3 hours ago
- Associated Press
Michigan State aiming for turnaround in Smith's 2nd season with returning QB Chiles and trio of WRs
Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] Michigan State's football program is desperately seeking a successful season. Aidan Chiles seems to give the Spartans a shot. The dual-threat quarterback is back after an uneven season as the starter and said he likes what he sees from his teammates. 'A lot of good energy,' he said. 'It's a different environment for sure. New guys that fit the program and fit the culture.' Michigan State was 5-7 last year in coach Jonathan Smith's debut season leading a program with only one winning record in a seven-season stretch. Smith, a former Oregon State coach, appeared to have a relatively successful offseason by retaining 70-plus players who decided to stay instead of transferring. 'Everyone chooses what roster they're on,' he said. 'For them to choose us, it's a real thing because they got options to go to other places.' Smith's seat Smith is not on the hot seat with decision-makers at Michigan State, but he's working for an athletic director who did not hire him. When the school pulled athletic director J Batt away from Georgia Tech, he acknowledged his top priority is to support the football program. Batt previously hired Brent Key to lead the Yellow Jackets and he helped them have consecutive winning seasons for the first time in a decade. Former Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller , who hired Smith, lost his job last May. Team strengths Nick Marsh had 41 receptions for 649 yards last year, both records for a Michigan State freshman, and the team landed two receivers in the transfer portal talented enough to be on the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award. Omari Kelly, who played at Middle Tennessee State and Auburn, former Kent State standout Chrishon McCray and Marsh make wide receiver the team's strongest position group. The Spartans should also be solid at linebacker with Jordan Hall and Darius Snow leading the way in the middle of the defense. Question marks The Spartans will improve their chances of surpassing modest expectations if they establish a running game, rush the passer much better than last year and find a reliable kicker. Michigan State averaged just 1.58 sacks last season, ranking No. 103 in major college football. 'We felt like that was somewhere we needed to pick it up,' said edge rusher Jalen Thompson, who didn't have a sack in 12 games last year. 'As a defense, we have been holding on to that and focusing on how we can get better.' Call it a comeback Michigan State defensive back Armorion Smith is expected to get a chance to play a key role in the secondary. Smith's mother died a little more than a year ago, leaving him as the head of household for five younger siblings and he became the legal guarding for four siblings last September. The schedule The Spartans open the season with a Friday night game Aug. 29 at home against Western Michigan. The toughest stretch is playing rival and 14th-ranked Michigan at home Oct. 25, a week after traveling to play No. 20 Indiana. Michigan State, though, gets a break by not having No. 3 Ohio State, No. 7 Oregon and No. 12 Illinois on the schedule. The Spartans close the regular season inside Ford Field in Detroit against Maryland on Nov. 29, when their students are on Thanksgiving break. ___ AP college football: and . Sign up for the AP's college football newsletter:
