Michigan State vs Michigan Prediction 3/9/25 College Basketball Picks Today

The Michigan Wolverines and the Michigan State Spartans meet Sunday in college basketball action from Breslin Center. Here’s a Michigan State vs Michigan prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Michigan State vs Michigan pick.

Michigan Wolverines Betting Preview

Michigan has a couple of (very brief) spotty stints this season, but overall they’re doing very well despite slipping a bit over the last five outings. The Wolverines kicked things off on an 8-1 opening run, falling to only Wake Forest on November 10 during that time. After consecutive losses to Arkansas and Oklahoma, the Wolverines took out Fort Wayne, Western Kentucky, USC, UCLA and Washington. Next came a 1-2 run with a win over Northwestern in between losses to Minnesota and Purdue. Michigan would roll past Penn State, Rutgers, Oregon, Indiana, Purdue and Ohio State in the next six before a loss to Michigan State and wins over Nebraska and Rutgers. Since then it’s been consecutive losses again, this time to Illinois and Maryland. In total that gives the Wolverines a 22-8 overall record across 30 games so far.

In the Maryland matchup on Wednesday, the Wolverines came out of halftime with a 33-22 deficit. Michigan got better in the second half with a 43-38 advantage but still ended up losing 71-65. Tops in scoring were Danny Wolf (eight rebounds; four assists) and Vladislav Goldin (15 rebounds and three assists for a double-double), each with 20 points. Tre Donaldson also landed in double-figures during the defeat with 10 points, six assists and three rebounds. Will Tschetter led a limp bench outing with three points and four rebounds.

Michigan State Spartans Betting Preview

Over on the Michigan State side, they had one brief rough patch in the record column back in February, but aside from that it’s been a very nice run for the Spartans all year. Michigan State lost to Kansas and Memphis in their first seven games, then rattled off a lengthy win streak over North Carolina, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oakland, FAU, Western Michigan, Ohio State, Washington, Northwestern, Penn State, Illinois, Rutgers and Minnesota. A 1-3 run came next with a win over Oregon amid losses to USC, UCLA and Indiana. Since then however, the Spartans have bounced back with wins over Illinois, Purdue, Michigan, Maryland, Wisconsin and Iowa.

Matched up against Iowa on Thursday, Michigan State was down 37-30 by the break. The Spartans came back on a 61-47 run from there however, powering out the win 91-84. Tops in scoring was Jase Richardson with 22 points and four rebounds in 33 minutes of work during the comeback victory.

Why the Michigan State Spartans will win

• Michigan State has won each of its last 17 games at Jack Breslin Student Events Center when playing with a rest disadvantage.
• Michigan has lost each of its last six games at Jack Breslin Student Events Center.
• Michigan has lost the first half in seven of its last eight day games against AP-ranked opponents.

Why the Michigan Wolverines will win

• Michigan has won eight of its last nine day games.
• Michigan State has lost the first half in nine of its last 10 games against the Big Ten Conference.

Total Points Facts

• Each of Michigan State’s last four games against AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 141 or fewer points.
• Five of Michigan’s last six day games against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 150+ points.

Michigan State vs Michigan Prediction

I’ll take a stab on Michigan here. Regardless, this should be a pretty fun rivalry matchup. The Wolverines do need a much better effort Sunday following their loss to Maryland this past week, though. Michigan shot decently (43.5 percent) and had a 39-37 rebounding edge. Trouble is, the Wolverines only got to the line for seven shots (making four), and coughed up 16 turnovers for 21 Terrapins points in a sloppy game. That’s the third time in the last four games that Michigan has finished below 66 points.

On February 21 when these teams last met, Michigan fell at home 75-62. The Wolverines were doing fine at the break on a 38-34 edge but got pummeled 41-24 the rest of the way. Michigan shot fairly well in that one also (46 percent), however they again got into turnover trouble with 15 for 18 Spartans points. The 34-25 rebounding deficit didn’t help, either. In the road rematch ball security is going to be even more important, as Michigan likely won’t win the rebounding battle. It’s going to take a strong effort but I think the Wolverines can stay close enough to cover in this one.