Michigan State basketball: 3 bold predictions vs. Oakland at LCA

Everyone’s favorite annual non-conference in-state matchup is finally here. Michigan State basketball will meet up with the Oakland Golden Grizzlies on Tuesday night in Detroit at Little Caesars Arena.

The Spartans are now ranked No. 20 in the nation and Oakland is reeling at just 3-5 after a horrendous start.

Michigan State is playing arguably its best basketball in years while Oakland is still looking for an identity. The Golden Grizzlies are struggling offensively, big-time, shooting just over 40 percent from the floor and averaging just over 61 points per game. It’s been a rough go for Greg Kampe and Co.

This is Michigan State’s first game in 10 days and there’s sure to be a little rust. So let’s get bold.

1. Jase Richardson scores 20 for first time in his career

Jase Richardson has been a revelation this year. He has been everything Michigan State fans had hoped for, and more.

Through the first nine games of his Michigan State career, he’s averaging 10.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while shooting 63.5% from the floor and 50 percent from deep. He’s been on fire to start his freshman year. And I think that continues on Tuesday night against a mediocre Oakland team.

Richardson has flirted with 20 points a couple of times through nine games (he missed one) but has never hit it. That changes against Oakland as he scores a team-high 21 points for the Spartans and shoots 60 percent from the floor.

2. Xavier Booker scores a season-high

For the past three games, Xavier Booker has looked more like the player we expected when the season began. He’s scored 34 points with 15 rebounds and three blocks over the past three games and it looks like he’s turned a corner. Expect that to continue on Tuesday night.

Booker is going to not only hit double digits for a fourth straight game, but he’s going to post a season-high 15 points with six rebounds and two blocks in the process. Need some energy off the bench? Booker is going to bring it in a big way.

3. MSU beats Oakland by widest margin since Cassius Winston

Oakland always seems to give Michigan State basketball its best game. Over the years, there have been some really close calls for the Spartans but ultimately Tom Izzo has never lost to the Golden Grizzlies. And I don’t see it happening this year either.

This is not one of Greg Kampe’s best teams and Michigan State is hotter than anyone right now.

The line is Michigan State -16.5 according to DraftKings, but I don’t see Oakland being able to keep pace offensively. The Spartans have scored at least 85 in three straight games and that will become four on Tuesday as they beat Oakland by 25 which is the largest margin since Cassius Winston was still running the point in 2018-19 — that game was a 99-69 final.

I’m going with 85-60 Michigan State.