Michigan State Basketball: 3 bold predictions vs. Oakland

Michigan State basketball finally has some positive momentum after beating Baylor. Will that carry over into Monday night?

I have to give myself some credit here. Two of my three bold predictions for the Baylor vs. Michigan State basketball game came true which, if you know me, rarely happens. So let’s see if we can do it again, shall we?

With a mid-major team in Oakland coming to town, we are going to have to get very bold for our predictions today. Let’s see if we can go 3-for-3 this time.

1. Mady Sissoko double-double

Wouldn’t it be amazing to see this one come true? Michigan State needs someone to start dominating down low, and what better time to do that than now? A center getting a double-double usually isn’t a “bold” prediction, but the way this season has gone it certainly is.

Mady Sissoko only has one double-double so far this season. That came in our second game against Southern Indiana where he finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Other than that, he hasn’t even flirted with another double-double. He has only finished with 10 rebounds or 10 points in two other games. I predict Mady will dominate the defensive glass and be a lob threat in the pick-and-roll like we see from time to time.

Let’s give Mady 12 points and 11 rebounds Monday night.

2. Michigan State has fewer than 7 turnovers

So far this season, Michigan State is averaging 11.1 turnovers per game. That is a pretty average number nationally as they are ranked 74th in the country in turnovers per game. The season low for Michigan State this season is eight against Wisconsin. Yes, I was surprised by that, too. The Badgers dominated MSU so I assumed the Spartans had a lot of turnovers.

The Spartans had less than 10 turnovers only two other times: against Nebraska and Alcorn State. Their most recent game against Baylor saw the Spartans rack up 15 turnovers. So other than the Baylor game, they have been trending in the right direction in the turnover department. However, having fewer than seven turnovers will be difficult to accomplish. Michigan State has only been under 10 three times this year and hasn’t even had seven in a game either. The Spartans will have to defy the statistical odds if they’re going to accomplish this one.

3. Steven Izzo scores

I think this is something that every Spartan wants to see. Steven Izzo is yet to score in a regular-season game. He has scored in exhibition games, but unfortunately, those don’t count towards his career stats.

Whenever Steven gets in at the end of a game, his teammates always look to feed him the ball. So he won’t be short of opportunities if he makes it in this game. Can he get it done is the question. Making a free throw isn’t bold enough for me, so I predict a deep 3-pointer to fall for Steven on Monday night that will make the Breslin Center explode.