New Mexico Lobos vs Michigan State Spartans Prediction, 3/23/2025 College Basketball Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: New Mexico Lobos vs Michigan State Spartans

Date: Sunday, March 23, 2025

Location: Rocket Arena in Cleveland, OH

TV: TNT

Odds/Point Spread: New Mexico (+7)

The Michigan State Spartans (28-6) are welcoming the New Mexico Lobos (27-7) at Rocket Arena on Sunday in the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament. New Mexico opens this matchup as 7-point underdogs. The total has been set at 147.

The New Mexico Lobos faced Marquette and walked away with a win by a score of 75-66 in their last game. New Mexico walked away from the contest having earned a 47.3% field goal percentage (26 out of 55) and made 5 of their 14 3-pointers. At the charity stripe, the Lobos converted 18 of 21 tries for a rate of 85.7%. Pertaining to rebounding, they earned 34 with 9 of them being offensive. They also distributed 14 dimes for the matchup while forcing the opposition into 11 turnovers and getting 8 steals. When it comes to defending, New Mexico allowed the other team to go 40.7% from the floor on 24 out of 59 shooting. Marquette recorded 12 dimes and had 7 steals for this contest. Additionally, Marquette pulled down 25 rebounds (8 offensive, 17 defensive), but didn't notch a block. Marquette finished 58.3% from the free throw line by converting 7 of their 12 shots. They buried 11 of their 30 tries from beyond the perimeter. When it comes to fouls, the Lobos ended up walking away with 13 and Marquette racked up 18 fouls.

Donovan Dent is one player who was important for this game. He went 41.2% from the field and also earned 6 dimes. He played for 39 mins and also pulled down 3 boards. He ended up with 21 points on 7 of 17 shooting.

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New Mexico enters this contest with a mark of 27-7 on the year. They are giving up possession 11.5 times per game and as a team they commit 17.4 personal fouls every game. As a unit, New Mexico is pulling in 39.2 boards per game and has racked up 514 assists so far this season, which ranks 66th in Division 1 in terms of passing. The Lobos are connecting on 34.7% on shots from 3-point land (239 of 688) and 69.1% from the charity stripe. They average 81.1 points per game (27th in college) while shooting 45.9% from the floor.

Defensively, the Lobos are forcing 15.2 turnovers per game and they draw 19.2 fouls. They are giving up 34.0% on shots from beyond the perimeter and they are ranked 139th in college in PPG allowed (70.6). The Lobos defensively are allowing a field goal percentage of 42.8% (847 of 1,979) and they relinquish 35.2 boards per contest as a team. They are ranked 327th in college hoops in giving up assists to the opposition with 496 relinquished for the campaign.

When they last played, the Michigan State Spartans took home the win by a final score of 87-62 against Bryant. In relation to rebounding, Michigan State permitted Bryant to collect 27 in all (7 on the offensive side). They shot 20.8% from 3-point land via 5 of 24 and ended up going 5 of 9 from the free throw line (55.6%). The Spartans permitted Bryant to knock down 26 of their 70 tries from the floor which gave them a shooting percentage of 37.1% in this matchup. When all was said and done, the Spartans finished the game shooting 31 for 70 from the field which gave them a shooting percentage of 44.3%. With regard to shots from downtown, Michigan State buried 10 out of their 26 tries (38.5%). They were able to knock down 15 of those for a percentage of 71.4%. Bryant had 16 fouls for the contest which took the Spartans to the charity stripe for a total of 21 attempts. They also turned the ball over 11 times, while recording 3 steals for the game. The Spartans were able to pull down 30 defensive rebounds and 20 offensive boards totaling 50 in this game.

Coen Carr ended up being a factor for the Spartans for the matchup. He converted 7 of 10 in this matchup for a field goal rate of 70.0%, and accumulated 9 rebounds. He accumulated 18 points in his 22 minutes on the court and accumulated 2 assists in this matchup.

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Michigan State has a record of 28-6 on the season. When it comes to executing on offense, the Spartans are hitting on 46.1% from the floor, which is ranked 98th in college hoops. Michigan State has 2,666 points on the campaign (78.4 per contest) and they snag 40.2 rebounds per game. They are assisting teammates 16.8 times per contest (21st in the nation) and they are losing possession via turnover 11.5 times per game. The Spartans are committing 16.9 fouls per game while shooting 77.9% from the charity stripe.

The Spartans on the defensive end are ranked 45th in D-1 in points given up per game with 67.1. They have forced 11.3 turnovers per game and allow teams to shoot 40.2% from the floor (22nd in D-1). The Michigan State defense allows 27.7% on 3-point shots (226 of 815) and opponents are connecting on 71.9% of their foul shots. They give up 12.5 assists and 30.7 rebounds every game, which has them ranked 123rd and 13th in college hoops.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take New Mexico (+7)

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