Michigan State basketball: 3 bold predictions vs. Northwestern

It’s been a minute since Michigan State basketball dropped a game, but Vegas believes that hot streak could end on Sunday against Northwestern in Evanston. The Spartans are 3-point favorites heading into the game against a 10-5 Wildcat squad.

Why is the spread so slim? Probably because Vegas knows that Michigan State is prone to a letdown on the road against Northwestern every now and then — with or without Boo Buie. Michigan State fans are expecting a much better result, but this won’t be a walk in the park.

While Northwestern is just 1-3 in Big Ten play, it has beaten Illinois and lost by five total points at Iowa and Penn State. This is a team that could sneak up on some contenders and ruin some pursuits for a Big Ten title.

But will we see that on Sunday with MSU?

1. Michigan State makes 50 percent of its threes

What makes me confident in this bold prediction? Honestly, I couldn’t tell you.

The Spartans are shooting just 28 percent from deep this season and they’re playing on the road after struggling from 3-point range at home in a 34-point win. They really haven’t improved as much as we all would have hoped from long-range, but Sunday will be a huge shot in the arm in that facet of the game.

Michigan State will make 10-of-20 shots from 3-point range to at least improve that season average just a bit.

2. Jeremy Fears Jr. has 10 assists again

As one of the top assist men in the Big Ten, Jeremy Fears Jr. has a reputation to uphold. He’ll do that against Northwestern.

The redshirt freshman point guard from Illinois will be back in his home state to put on a show, dishing out 10 assists for a second straight game and he might even turn it into another double-double. Fears is playing some of the best basketball of his young career and I think he’ll have a big homecoming on Sunday afternoon with nine points and those 10 assists with a couple of steals, too.

3. Michigan State scores 80, covers

Michigan State basketball has been lighting up the scoreboard this season, averaging over 80 points per game which is almost unprecedented for this program this deep into the season. Tom Izzo has had some high-scoring teams, but this one may be his most balanced ever.

Northwestern has given up 80 points just twice this season and both happened in Big Ten play. Michigan State will be the third team to score 80 on the Wildcats, winning by 11 and covering the spread.

I previously predicted a 77-65 win for the Spartans, but I’m updating that to 80-69.