Michigan State Spartans vs Minnesota Golden Gophers Prediction, 12/8/2021 College Basketball Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Michigan State Spartans vs Minnesota Golden Gophers

Date: Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Location: Williams Arena in Minneapolis, MN

TV: BTN

The Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-0) host the Michigan State Spartans (7-2) at Williams Arena on Wednesday.

The Michigan State Spartans played Toledo and earned the victory with a final of 81-68 in their last game. Michigan State finished the contest with a 40.0% field goal percentage (26 out of 65) and buried 12 out of their 26 three-point shots. At the free throw line, the Spartans converted 17 of 21 shots for a percentage of 81.0%. When discussing pulling down boards, they earned a total of 39 with 10 of them being of the offensive variety. They also recorded 22 assists for the game while forcing the other team into 12 turnovers and earning 6 steals. In the matter of the defense, Michigan State allowed the other team to go 35.4% from the field on 23 of 65 shooting. Toledo doled out 10 dimes and had 7 steals in the matchup. Additionally, Toledo totaled 34 boards (8 offensive, 26 defensive), but couldn't earn a rejection. Toledo finished the game at 90.0% when shooting free throws by burying 18 of 20 shots. They also knocked down 4 out of their 24 tries from beyond the arc. With respect to personal fouls, the Spartans ended up finishing with 17 and Toledo had 18 personal fouls.

Tyson Walker is a guy who was a major contributor for this contest. He ended up with 11 points on 3 of 9 shooting. He played 25 mins played and collected 1 rebound. He finished 33.3% from the field and earned 6 dimes.

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Michigan State comes into this one with a mark of 7-2 on the campaign. They are averaging 73.2 pts per game (160th in college basketball) while going 44.6% from the field. The Spartans are connecting on 36.7% on 3-pointers (61 of 166) and 71.4% from the charity stripe. As a unit, Michigan State is pulling in 41.3 rebounds per game and has accounted for 136 assists so far this season, which is 56th in Division 1 in terms of passing the rock. They turn the ball over 15.7 times per contest and as a team they commit 16.0 fouls per contest.

When they are on defense, the Spartans are forcing their opponents into 13.0 turnovers every game and they draw 19.8 fouls. They currently rank 102nd in college hoops in allowing assists with 89 surrendered so far this year. The Spartans defense is allowing a shooting percentage of 37.7% (211 of 560) and they concede 33.9 boards per game as a squad. They surrender 26.8% from 3-point land and they are ranked 88th in D-1 in points per game allowed (63.6).

The last time they took the court, the Minnesota Golden Gophers walked away with a victory by a final of 81-76 against Mississippi State. The Golden Gophers pulled down 21 defensive boards and 3 offensive boards for a total of 24 in this game. They also gave up possession of the ball 3 times, while getting 4 steals for the matchup. Mississippi State committed 13 fouls in this contest which took the Golden Gophers to the free throw line for 13 shots. They were able to bury 11 of them for a clip of 84.6%. In reference to 3-pointers, Minnesota converted 12 of their 29 attempts (41.4%). In all, the Golden Gophers ended up going 29 out of 59 from the floor which had them shooting 49.2%. The Golden Gophers allowed Mississippi State to knock down 28 out of 64 tries from the floor which gave them a shooting percentage of 43.8% for this game. They went 31.0% from three-point range by going 9 of 29 and finished the contest at 11 of 13 at the charity stripe (84.6%). With respect to rebounding, Minnesota permitted Mississippi State to collect 39 in total (13 on the offensive glass).

Payton Willis ended up being a factor for the Golden Gophers for this contest. He earned 24 points in his 38 minutes of playing time and tallied 7 dimes for this contest. He made 8 of 15 for this game for a field goal percentage of 53.3%, and accounted for 4 rebounds.

Minnesota has a win-loss mark of 7-0 so far this year. The Golden Gophers are committing 13.1 fouls per game and they hit 69.7% from the charity stripe. They are dishing out assists 12.4 times per game (229th in D-1) and they lose possession by turning the ball over 9.7 times per contest. Minnesota has accounted for 499 points for the year (71.3 per contest) and they grab 34.4 rebounds per contest. As an offensive team, the Golden Gophers are connecting on 45.7% from the floor, which ranks them 124th in college basketball.

The Golden Gophers defensively are ranked 53rd in college basketball in points per game surrendered with 61.0. They are forcing 13.0 turnovers on a nightly basis and have allowed teams to shoot 39.3% from the field (65th in Division 1). The Minnesota defense gives up 23.1% on shots from beyond the arc (34 of 147) and opponents are making 68.6% of their foul shots. They have surrendered 10.0 dimes and 39.4 rebounds per game, which ranks them 49th and 321st in D-1.

Who will win tonight's NCAA basketball game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Michigan State

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