The Michigan State Spartans and the Loyola (Chicago) Ramblers face off in Saturday college basketball action in East Lansing.

The Michigan State Spartans are off to a solid start and are nationally ranked and while they have already hit a few bumps in the road not surprising to anyone Tom Izzo has a team that can play. MSU’s style is the same we have seen from them forever pounding the boards and sticking to the fundamentals as opposed to a razzle dazzle type of play. As a team Michigan State is averaging 69.3 points, 14 assists, and their opponents are shooting 48.4 percent while defensively they are allowing 55.9 points, 8.2 assists, and their opponents are shooting 36.3 percent. Keith Appling is averaging 15.3 points with 4.2 assists, Gary Harris is averaging 12.6 points, Branden Dawson is averaging 10.8 points and 5.8 rebounds, and Adreian Payne is averaging 7.4 points and 7.2 rebounds. Michigan State will be tested plenty in the Big Ten this year and we will find out soon enough if they have what it takes to play with the heavyweights in that conference this season.

The Loyola Ramblers are off to a 6-2 start but the wins have come against the lesser competition with the losses coming against the tougher opponents. Porter Moser has a decent talent pool to work with and his Ramblers should be able to make some noise in the Horizon League this season. As a team Loyola is averaging 65 points, 14.1 assists, and they are shooting 44.7 percent while defensively they are allowing 57.5 points, 9.9 assists, and their opponents are shooting 39.9 percent. Ben Averkamp is averaging 16.5 points and 6.6 rebounds, Jordan Hicks is averaging 8.1 points, and Cully Payne is averaging 7.1 points and 4.6 assists. It will more than likely be difficult for Loyola to stay reasonably close here.

Michigan State is 14-5 against the spread in their last 19 home games, 2-5 against the spread following a win, and 1-4 against the spread against a team with a winning record. Loyola is 7-2 against the spread in their last nine road games, 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 non-conference games, and 0-5 against the spread against the Big Ten.

Michigan State should get the win here but Loyola should keep it close enough to get the cover.