Published Mar 20, 4:33pm ET by
Gabriel Kozlow - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Mar 20, 4:33pm ET
Updated Mar 20, 4:37pm ET
Things are heating up in the Round of 32 as the Louisville Cardinals take on the Michigan State Spartans at KeyBank Center in Buffalo. The Cardinals survived a close battle against South Florida, while the Spartans advanced comfortably after taking care of the Bison.
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| MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS | -192 |
| LOUISVILLE CARDINALS | +160 |
Louisville controlled most of the game against South Florida; however, it allowed the Bulls to climb back into the contest and make things tense late. Fortunately for the Cardinals, they were able to withstand the comeback behind Isaac McKneely’s 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting.
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Against the Spartans, Louisville will need to rely on its strong offense against Michigan State’s dominant defense. The Cardinals’ perimeter defense can also generate a few more steals, so they should focus on forcing turnovers and pushing the ball in transition to create easy scoring chances.
The Michigan State Spartans looked strong in their first-round game against the Bison. There were a few lead changes early on, but the Spartans quickly took control and eventually pulled away for a 25-point win. Carson Cooper led the way with 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting, along with 10 rebounds.
Michigan State shot an impressive 50% from three-point range (10-for-20) in its last game, so it will look to be just as efficient in this matchup. The Spartans are also the better defensive team, which is especially important against Louisville’s efficient offense. Look for Jaxon Kohler and Jeremy Fears to help lead the way defensively.
This game is expected to be close, with the Spartans listed as 4.5-point favorites. The over/under is set at 151.5, and the Moneyline has Michigan State at -192 and Louisville at +160.
Historically, No. 6 seeds upset No. 3 seeds about 35% of the time, which makes the Cardinals a legitimate threat. Still, we believe Michigan State is firing on all cylinders and should advance to the Sweet Sixteen.
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Pick
Michigan State Spartans (-192)
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