MSU vs. Maryland Betting Line – Big 10 CBB
The MSU vs. Maryland betting line had the Terrapins as a -3 favorite in this Big 10 CBB game. Place your 1st bet, get your 2nd bet FREE.
Tip-off: Saturday, 4:00 p.m. ET
Sportsbook.ag Line: Maryland -3
No. 14 Maryland has been the surprise of the college basketball season, and will look to complete the regular-season sweep against Michigan State on Saturday.
Maryland (6-8-1 ATS) has been one of the biggest surprises in college basketball this season, and one of its signature victories was at Michigan State on Dec. 30. In that game, the Terps were able to hang on to get a 68-66 victory in double overtime. The biggest reason why they were able to prevail was because of a dominating performance on the glass. The Spartans are known as a terrific rebounding team, but Maryland was able to win the rebounding battle 52-36 that night.
Michigan State (10-7 ATS) had some struggles early in the season, but the Spartans still have the talent to compete for a Big Ten title. Tom Izzo’s squad has five losses on the season, and four of them are to teams that are currently ranked No. 14 or higher. They are also 9-5 ATS with at least two days' rest this season, and although Maryland is 11-1 SU at home (8-0 SU when favored), but are only 2-7 ATS at Comcast Center.
Michigan State lost a lot of talent from last season's Elite Eight team, but this is still a very efficient offensive team. Entering Friday's action, Michigan State ranks third in the nation in assists (18.3 APG), 28th in shooting (48.2% FG), 28th in rebounding (39.2 RPG) and 41st in scoring (74.7 PPG).
Michigan State always has a talented backcourt, and once again the Spartans have a great duo in PG Travis Trice (14.3 PPG, 6.1 APG, 3.2 RPG) and SG Denzel Valentine (14.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 4.2 APG). This combination plays very well together, and has appeared in many big games for Michigan State. The Spartans are both shooting the ball very well from deep this season (Trice 39% threes, Valentine 46% threes), with Valentine doing a great job of emerging as the leader of the team.
SF Branden Dawson (11.3 PPG. 9.5 RPG, 1.4 SPG) is one of the most complete players in college basketball. He makes his presence felt all over the court, and can be dominant on the glass. Outside shooting is a big strength for the Spartans, as they rank fifth in college basketball with an impressive 41.3% clip from three-point land.
The defense for Michigan State has also been solid this season, as it allows 61.1 PPG and holds teams to meager shooting marks of 37.8% FG (22nd in nation through Friday) and 28.5% threes (19th in NCAA through Friday).
The Terrapins had a lot of players transfer from their team, but the balanced offensive attack has helped the team rank 57th in the nation in rebounding (37.9 RPG), 68th in scoring (72.8 PPG), 123rd in shooting (44.4% FG) and 259th in assists (11.6 APG).
PG Melo Trimble (15.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.0 APG) and SF Jake Layman (14.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 51% FG) are leading the way for the team, but only Trimble had a big game in East Lansing. He was unstoppable off the bounce, as he tormented the Spartans by going 12-of-14 from the free-throw line. Layman really struggled in that game though, scoring only four points in the win. With F Dez Wells (14.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 11-of-22 threes) back at full health, Maryland has a trio that can compete with any team in the Big Ten.
The Terrapins' defense is just as tough as Michigan State’s, as it allows 61.4 PPG and limits opponents to 37.3% FG (18th in nation through Friday) and 28.3% threes (16th in NCAA through Friday).
