Iowa Hawkeyes vs Michigan State Spartans | Predictions, Preview, Odds & Free Pick | Sportsbookbuzz.com

NCAA Basketball Free Pick – Thursday, March 10, 2011

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Iowa Hawkeyes (11-19) vs Michigan State Spartans (17-13)
Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 4:30 PM EST on ESPN2

Last meeting: MSU beat Iowa 85-66 just a week ago

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Iowa is not very good but you can’t dismiss the fact that they tend to hang around and have beaten some good teams this season, like shocking Purdue in their Big Ten finale. I don’t know how they do it but their spunk seems to indicate that this program might not be a Big Ten doormat for much longer. One of their quality wins was against Michigan State earlier in the season, a home win by 20 points when MSU was at their lowest point. Obviously they were whistling a different tune when they met more recently losing by 19 to the Spartans on teh road last week. In that earlier victory they got a strong game from leading scorer Matt Gatens. They will need an even stronger performance from him if they are looking to extend their season this afternoon.

I have to admit the Michigan State Spartans have been killing me all season long so take my analysis of them with a gran of salt. There is no doubt they are the more talented team in this matchup but they have been maddeningly inconsistent without any real explanation that I or anyone else can identify. Some have them penciled into the big dance but I think it is a bit premature and that they have to at least beat Iowa to improve their chances. A loss would be devastating so if you think Tom Izzo is any sort of coach you have to back MSU right? At least to win the game

The current line on this one is Michigan State -7. Backing the Spartans has been a losing proposition this year but I think this is one time where it is definitely the right play. I see an easy victory.

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Prediction: For just one game MSU is going to make us think they really are the Big Ten/NCAA Championship contender everyone thought they were in the preseason. This one is over by the half

Score: Michigan State 77 – Iowa 60

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