USC vs Michigan State Prediction 2/1/25 College Basketball Picks Today

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

Michigan State Spartans Betting Preview

Michigan State has been one of the more consistent teams in the country so far this season. The Spartans have recorded just a pair of losses, with the latest one coming all the way back in late November. Michigan State opened on a 5-2 run with wins over Monmouth, Niagara, Bowling Green, Samford and Colorado amid losses to Kansas and Memphis in that time. Since then it’s been a string of 13 straight victories for Michigan State. In succession those have come versus North Carolina, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oakland, Florida Atlantic, Western Michigan, Ohio State, Washington, Northwestern, Penn State, Illinois, Rutgers and Minnesota. The result so far has been a nice 18-2 overall record though 20 games for the Wolverines.

In their latest outing on Tuesday versus Minnesota, the Spartans came out of the break with a 36-16 advantage. Michigan State kept it up in the second half with a 37-35 advantage and took the eventual victory 73-51 in blowout fashion. Leading the team in scoring with 12 points, two boards and three assists was Tre Holloman. Jaden Akins added 10 points with three rebounds and two assists with one steal, while Xavier Booker added 10 points and three rebounds off the bench. Carson Cooper chipped in 11 rebounds off the bench as well.

USC Trojans Betting Preview

Over on the Trojans’ side, they’ve been something of a mixed bag so far this year amid a tricky Big Ten schedule. USC is still winning most of their games, though. The Trojans opened on a 5-1 stretch with a lone loss to California amid wins over Chattanooga, Idaho State, Texas Arlington, San Jose State and Grambling. USC would lose their next three to Saint Mary’s, New Mexico and Oregon, but then recovered with successive wins over Washington, Montana State, Cal State Northridge and Southern in the next four. Since then it’s been a shaky 3-4 run for the Trojans. The wins have come over Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska. Otherwise it’s been losses to Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and UCLA in that time, giving USC a 12-8 overall record through the first 20 games of the 2024-25 campaign.

Matched up against UCLA on Monday, the Trojans went into the break with a 42-37 deficit. USC didn’t end up getting any closer in a 40-39 second half and took the loss 82-76 in the end. Leading the team in scoring during the losing effort was Rashaun Agee, who came off the bench to contribute 21 points with five rebounds and one steal. Tops among the starters was Wesley Yates with 19 points, one rebound and one assist in 39 minutes. Saint Thomas added 13 points with eight boards and six assists in the defeat as well.

Why the USC Trojans will win

• USC has won five of its last six games following a home loss.

Why the Michigan State Spartans will win

• Michigan State has won each of its last 13 games.
• USC has lost each of its last four day games against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents.
• Michigan State has won the first half in each of its last 11 games against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Total Points Facts

• Each of USC’s last seven games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 151+ points.
• Eleven of Michigan State’s last 13 day games against non-AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 146 or fewer points.

USC vs Michigan State Prediction

I’m going to stay with Michigan State in this one. The Spartans didn’t have much issue with an average Minnesota squad in their last outing, posting 44.6 percent shooting from the field, a 40-22 rebounding advantage and 12 points off 12 Gophers turnovers. Michigan State had 20 team assists and shot a decent 8-of-25 (32 percent) from long range. During this lengthy 13-game win streak, the Spartans have scored 69 or more points in each outing, and 73 or more points in 12 of them.

As for USC, they shot well versus UCLA in their latest loss (49.1 percent) but also got outmuscled on the boards 29-25 and had a rough 11-of-19 (57.9 percent) rate from the line. USC has scored well themselves lately with 69 or more points in 11 straight outings. The Trojans are giving up a lot on the other side to good offenses though, and I don’t think they’ll keep Michigan State at bay here.