The regular season hasn't ended the way Michigan basketball fans were expecting. The Wolverines have lost three of their last four games.
That losing skid started with Michigan State at Crisler. The Spartans dominated on the boards and notched a double-digit win in Ann Arbor. The Spartans haven't lost since, and they wrapped up the Big Ten title outright earlier this week with a win over Iowa.
Michigan basketball still has plenty at stake. The Wolverines can wrap up the No. 2 seed with a win in East Lansing. If they lose, they might be the No. 3 seed in the Big Ten tournament.
Michigan also needs a win to improve its NCAA tournament resume and also just to get some positive momentum heading into the postseason. Here's a look at the odds, a prediction, and how to watch.
Michigan basketball vs. Michigan State odds
The Wolverines are a 7.5-point underdog against the Spartans. The over/under is 146.5, according to Vegas Oddsmakers.
Michigan vs. Michigan State How to watch
Date: March 9th
Game Time: 12:00 PM EST
Venue: Breslin Center
How to Watch: CBS | FUBO TV.
Michigan basketball vs. Michigan State prediction
The Wolverines have been struggling and it's hard to see them magically figuring it out at the Breslin Center, which might be the toughest building in the league outside of Purdue's Mackey Arena.
Tre Donaldson needs to break out of his funk. He played better against Maryland, but he needs to be a difference maker. Tom Izzo didn't double much on Vlad Goldin in the first matchup, and probably won't this time around, except when trying to force some turnovers.
Danny Wolf and Goldin have had to carry the offense, which is getting harder to do without any floor spacers. Michigan shot 35 percent from 3-point range against Maryland. The Spartans caught fire from deep against Michigan basketball in the first meeting. The Wolverines need to be more competitive from the 3-point line and probably need to make 40 percent to win.
I don't see that happening. Jase Richardson has been nearly impossible to guard and the Spartans are just deeper, and are playing better on both ends of the floor, at least right now.
Michigan State 79, Michigan 70