On Friday at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, the Michigan State Spartans and Davidson Wildcats will face off in the NCAA Tournament First Round. The Davidson Wildcats are seeking for their seventh victory in nine games. After splitting their previous eight games, the Michigan State Spartans are looking for a win. Foster Loyer, Davidson’s best scorer, will square off against his former team. Izzo has a game plan to stop him, so take Foster’s under point total.
Davidson averages 75.8 points on 48.4 percent shooting and allows 66 points on 41.9 percent shooting. Foster Loyer leads the team with 16.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, while Hyunjung Lee leads the team with 16.3 points and 1.9 assists per game. Luka Brajkovic, who averages 3.5 rebounds per game, is the team’s third double-digit scorer. Davidson shoots 38.7 percent from outside the arc and 74.9 percent from the free throw line. Davidson allows 34.2 percent three-point shooting and averages 31.8 rebounds per game.
Michigan State averages 72.1 points on 45.6% shooting while allowing 68.3 points on 41.7 percent shooting. Gabe Brown leads the team with 11.4 points and 1.1 assists per game, while Max Christie leads the team with 9.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Marcus Bingham Jr. averages 6.1 rebounds per game, while Malik Hall averages 4.6. Michigan State shoots 38.4 percent from outside the arc and 74.7 percent from the free throw line. Michigan State Spartans allow 31.3 percent three-point shooting and average 33.6 rebounds per game.
The Wildcats are 4-0 against the spread in their last four Friday games and 6-2 overall. The Spartans are 4-0 against the spread in their last four neutral-site games and 4-0 against the spread in their last four overall games. The over is 4-1 in the Wildcats’ prior five neutral site games. Overall, the over is 5-1 in the Spartans’ last six games.
The Davidson Wildcats have the scorers to pull off an upset or two if shots fall, but their defense has been a worry, and they don’t face many tough opponents like MSU in the A10. Michigan State’s Spartans are the best team in program history, but they also get after it defensively, pound the boards, and can ugly a game all the way to victory.
Free Pick: Michigan State Spartans -1
