Michigan State had to sweat, but they’re into the Sweet 16 for the 16th time under illustrious head coach Tom Izzo.
The Spartans trailed New Mexico, 31-29, at halftime and were tied with 7:39 to go in the second frame, but Michigan State dominated the last stretch of the game en route to a 71-63 victory.
Proving you can win tight contests is never bad, but Michigan State has now trailed in the second half against 10 of its last 14 opponents.
Bet on Ole Miss vs. Michigan State with Bet365 Sportsbook’s bonus code NYPBET and get a $150 bonus for betting $5.
At some point, that will come back to haunt them.
The Spartans are a 3.5-point favorite against Ole Miss on Friday.
Ole Miss is quietly lurking in this field.
The Rebels may not have the statistical profile to match the true heavyweights in the tournament, but they’ve proven they can beat anybody in Division I this season.
Ole Miss went 24-11 against the sixth-toughest schedule in the country, per KenPom, and 15 of their 18 games in SEC play came against teams that qualified for the Big Dance.
The Rebels also added a victory over BYU – a fellow Sweet 16 contender – in their non-conference schedule.
Michigan State is a tough test for anybody, but this Ole Miss squad has weathered plenty of storms to get this far.
There is certainly a chance that Michigan State’s defense rules the day, but the Spartans will have their hands full with an Ole Miss side that made pretty quick work of Iowa State in the Round of 32.
Michigan State’s struggles from behind the arc could also plague them against a team that invites opponents to heave as many 3-pointers as they’d like.
This game feels pretty close to a coin flip, and that puts value on Ole Miss on the moneyline.
The Pick: Ole Miss +140
New customers only, 21+ (18+ in KY). Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Available in AZ, CO, NJ, IA, KY, IN, LA, NC, VA, OH only. Bet $5 and Get $150 in Bonus Bets at bet365. Registration required. A deposit (minimum $10) is required to participate in this offer. You must claim the offer via the bet365 app, within 30 days of registering your account. Once released, your Bonus Bets will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable.T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.