The Michigan State Spartans are 2.5-point favorites over the Texas Tech Raiders, per legal betting sites in the Final Four. MSU bested LSU 80-63 in the Sweet Sixteen round as six-point chalk. And then the Spartans went 300 on best online sportsbooks’ darlings the Duke Blue Devils. Except that, mind you, Michigan State actually, you know, conquered Duke. Not like that shiftless Gerard Butler. The Spartans entered the Elite Eight as 2.5-point underdogs and held off the Devils 68-67. Therefore, they reached their first Final Four since 2015. The Red Raiders have also been of the upset persuasion as of late. Like so many Magnetos, the Raiders ripped the Adamantium from the Wolverines, leaving them lifeless and limp. That is to say, TTU defeated Michigan 63-44 in the Sweet Sixteen stage as 1.5-point underdogs. Later on, they disposed of the Gonzaga Bulldogs 75-69 as five-point dogs in the Elite Eight.
Michigan State Spartans vs. Texas Tech Raiders
- Date: Saturday April 6, 2019
- Time: 8:49 PM (EDT)
- Venue: U.S. Bank Stadium Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Line from MyBookie.ag:
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Tech | +2½ (-110) | 132½(-110) | +135 |  |
| Michigan State | -2½ (-110) | 132½ (-110) | -155 | |
|
||||
Betting Michigan State
MSU is scoring 78.3 points per game while allowing 65.1. The Spartans shoot 48.4% from the field and allow the third lowest opponent field goal shooting percentage. Michigan State secures 40.6 rebounds per game. According to legal betting sites, the Spartans are 14-1 SU and 11-4 ATS in their last 15 games. Their single defeat in that span was to Indiana in early March. Additionally, MSU is 4-1 ATS in their last five non-conference games. 5-1 ATS in their last six neutral court games. And 26-9 ATS in their last 35 games overall. The under is 5-1 in Michigan State’s last six games overall.
Betting Texas Tech
The Red Raiders are 13-1 SU and 11-3 ATS in its last 14 games. Their single loss in that stretch occurred to West Virginia in a Big 12 quarterfinal. Moreover, TTU is 6-0 ATS in their last six games played on a Saturday. 4-0 ATS in their last four neutral court games. And 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games overall. The Raiders produce 73 points per game and concede just 59. Texas Tech’s field goal shooting percentage is 47.1 and their opponents’ is the second lowest in the country. TTU averages only 34.2 boards per game.
There are five reasons that Texas Tech will win NCAA tourney. Which presumably includes their Final Four bracket. At least according to CBS Sports.com. Collectively, the Raiders have the best defense in college hoops. And defense wins championships, as people say in the parlance of our times. And particularly, they have Jarrett Culver. “The long, lean wing has divided some NBA executives,” Reid Forgrave writes. “He can do everything on a basketball court, but does he have one single elite talent?” Which is his way of saying Culver is a jack-of-all-trades but perhaps a master of none.
Pick: This is what we in the business of legal betting sites call a doozy. I believe that is actually the technical term. On paper, Michigan State should easily beat Texas Tech and cover the point spread. But then again so should have Michigan. And so should have Gonzaga. And yet neither could get the job done. Need we ask ourselves, how are the Spartans going to succeed where those two other schools failed? MSU did upset Duke, but now the shoe is on the other foot. Now the Spartans are the Persians, so to speak. If you’re looking for any sort of edge to grab on to, perhaps experience will do the trick. Coach Izzo has been in seven Final Fours and may have a trick or three up his sleeve.
