Wildcats, Spartans Do Battle in the Desert
Arizona vs MI State Scores & Predictions
One of the better games on the Thanksgiving college basketball schedule will take place in Palm Springs, California between Arizona and Michigan State. The game isn’t part of a tournament. It’s just a neutral court game between two ranked NCAAB teams. The game will feature a nice contrast in styles between Arizona’s fast-paced play and the Spartans’ slow-down game. The Arizona vs MI State scores & predictions see the Wildcats favored by 4 points and the total is at 145.5 points.
Wildcats vs Spartans 
Day/Time:
Location: Acrisure Arena, Palm Springs, California
Line: Arizona -4
Total: 145.5
Streaming: FOX
Wildcats Off and Running
The Arizona Wildcats have opened the season with a 5-0 record, scoring more than 100 points three times and 97 points another game. The only game they were held in check was in Arizona’s 78-73 victory over Duke. The Wildcats are No. 8 in adjusted tempo, so they like to run the floor. Arizona is also 5-0 against the spread, so not a bad team to be using in your NCAAB picks and parlays.
One thing the early season schedule has done is allow the Wildcats to play lots of players. Ten players are averaging at least 10 minutes per game. That will change once the Pac-12 Conference games begin. Arizona has six college basketball players averaging more than 10 points per game and no player playing more than 26.2 minutes per game.
The bench will be a little bit shorter against Michigan State, however. Kylan Boswell is leading the team in scoring with 13.8 points per game. He doesn’t shoot as much as some of the other players, but is an impressive 15 for 22 in 3-pointers on the year. Arizona shoots 41.5% as a team from long range. But it won’t be that easy on Thanksgiving.
The Wildcats can play defense, ranking No. 7 in Ken Pomeroy’s adjusted defensive efficiency. Arizona has allowed more than 70 points just once this season.
Spartans Stumble Out of Gate
Michigan State opened the season with a surprising 79-76 overtime loss to James Madison. The Spartans lost their third game of the year to Duke. But they’ve defeated Butler and Alcorn State to get to 3-2 in the NCAAB standings. Michigan State isn’t going to score a lot of points.
The Spartans are ranked No. 330 in adjusted tempo, so they will play a deliberate half-court game. Tyson Walker is scoring 23 points per game. Everybody else is at 10 points or less.
The Spartans simply haven’t shot the ball very well so far this season. Michigan State is shooting 52.9% on 2-pointers, which ranks No. 118. It gets worse from there, as the Spartans are shooting 26.3% of 3-pointers and 66.4% from the foul line. Those numbers will hurt them if they don’t pick-up the shooting.
But on defense, the Spartans are solid, ranking No. 9 in adjusted efficiency. Michigan State holds teams to 37.3% on 2-pointers and 28.1% on 3-pointers. The defense is going to have to continue to play well as long as the team’s shooting woes continue.
What to Expect
The Wildcats want to run. That’s their preferred style, but much of that has to do with the opposition. Arizona didn’t get its usual number of possessions against Duke and it won’t here.
The Spartans don’t have the offense to compete in a shootout with Arizona. They know that, so look for Michigan State to slow the game down as much as possible.
This is a big game for both teams, but probably a bigger one for the Spartans, who already have a pair of losses. Both teams have Final Four aspirations, if not higher. The March Madness odds on the Wildcats winning the title are +1600. Michigan State is +1800, so both teams are expected to do well this season.
Who to Bet On?
The Arizona vs MI State scores & predictions of the Wildcats -4 points seems a shade low. After all, Arizona went to Duke and came away with a win. The Blue Devils beat Michigan State on a neutral court. The Pomeroy power ratings have Arizona about 7.5 points better. But the Spartans could play with more intensity due to the two losses. Still, it’s a line you expected to be closer to Wildcats -5.
The Arizona vs MI State scores & predictions on the total might be a shade high. For the Wildcats, a 145.5-point total is going to be extremely low. But for the Spartans, that’s a pretty high number. Michigan State has to do everything it can to slow the tempo down and think the under 145.5 offers a little bit of value.
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