It’s a relatively tame college basketball slate this Sunday, but we still have some absolute doozies for us. One of the bunch may be Michigan State (23-5) rolling into Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall to take on the Indiana Hoosiers (17-11).
This is the second meeting between these two teams this year, with Michigan State winning the first game in dominant fashion, 81-60. MSU vs. Indiana tips off at 3:45 p.m. ET from Bloomington, IN, live on CBS.
Below, we’ll break down our Michigan State vs. Indiana prediction and picks for Sunday’s game. Make your college basketball picks on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks and earn real money if you’re right, including on game winners, spreads, and totals!
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Michigan State vs. Indiana Prediction, Spread, Over/Under
It’s been a great season for the Spartans, who sit 13-4 in conference play and are the No. 3 seed in the Big Ten. They’ll aim to finish the season in strong fashion, with three remaining outings and only 1.5 games separating them and the No. 6 seed Wisconsin Badgers.
Every game is crucial at this point in the season, with major implications for the conference tournament and NCAA Tournament seeding. The good news for MSU is they're led by one of the best players in the Big Ten: sophomore G Jeremy Fears Jr.
Fears has taken a huge step forward in his playmaking, increasing his assists per game from 5.4 last year to 9.1 this year. He also leads the Spartans in points per game at 14.9.
The Hoosiers come into this one desperate for a victory after three straight losses. Perhaps the first two on the road against Illinois and Purdue can be forgiven, but the following home loss to Northwestern has this team itching to get back in the win column.
Indiana is 13-3 at home this season and is led by one of the most electric scorers in college basketball. Senior guard Lamar Wilkerson has become an NBA Draft hopeful after showcasing his ability to heat up like a microwave this year. He has scoring performances of 32, 33, 41, and 44 points, which have helped him lead his team in PPG at 21.0.
Michigan State vs. Indiana Over/Under, Spread
The Spartans enter Sunday’s game as 3.5-point road favorites, returning a 1.61x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they win outright.
The Hoosiers are home underdogs with a 2.22x payout if they win, via PrizePicks Team Picks, where you can earn money with your picks in 34 states.
- Spread: Michigan State Spartans -3.5 (1.96x payout)
- Over/Under: 144.5 (1.85x payout on over)
- Game Winner Payout: Spartans 1.61x | Hoosiers 2.22x
Team Picks payouts are live as of writing and are subject to change.
Michigan State vs. Indiana Prediction on Spread
Here are some stats to know to help you make your Michigan State vs. Indiana prediction on the spread on Sunday, March 1st, on PrizePicks.
- Indiana has had trouble against top competition. Facing ranked teams, they are 2-5-0 (28.6%) against the spread (ATS), the second-worst record in the Big Ten. IU is just 8-8 ATS in Bloomington this year.
- KenPom has an 11.22 difference in net rating between these two teams, with Michigan State at 29.11 and Indiana at 17.89.
- One could argue IU is underperforming relative to its schedule; the program is 304th nationally in non-conference strength of schedule net rating compared to MSU at 105th.
- For the season, MSU is ranked fifth and first nationally in offensive and defensive rebounding percentage (38.6% and 22.4%, respectively).
- IU sits 294th (27.1%) and 144th (29.7%) in the aforementioned two categories.
Michigan State vs. Indiana Picks for PrizePicks Today: Sunday, March 1
Here are two of the top Michigan State vs. Indiana picks to target for Sunday, March 1st, on PrizePicks. Player stat projections via PrizePicks are headlined by G Jeremy Fears Jr. and G Lamar Wilkerson.
Michigan State G Jeremy Fears Jr. vs. Indiana Projection: 7.5 Assists
- Fears is averaging 9.1 assists per game and has had More than this projection in 18 of his 28 games played (64.3%).
- In his only other outing vs. Indiana this year, he went off for 23 points and 10 assists.
- The Hoosiers' defense has struggled with on-ball defense, as seen by them ranking 273rd nationally in turnover percentage (15.2%).
- This inability to cause chaos to opposing ball handlers could prove troublesome against Fears, who boasts a 23.5% usage rate and Division I-leading 52.5% assist clip.
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Indiana G Lamar Wilkerson vs. Michigan State Projection: 27.5 Pts + Rebs + Asts
- For the season, Wilkerson averages 27.1 points, rebounds, and assists (PRA) but draws an incredibly tough matchup vs. this Spartans defense.
- MSU's defense is sixth nationally in rating, according to KenPom, and gets it done on all three levels. The Spartans hold opponents to just 40.1% shooting overall (17th), 47.3% from 2-point range (37th), and 31.6% from deep (56th).
- In his only clash against MSU this year, Wilkerson went for just 19 points and 1 assist (20 PRA).
Make #13 Michigan State vs. Indiana Picks on PrizePicks
It’s an exciting time of the year, as the college basketball regular season winds down and each game becomes even more meaningful. Michigan State vs. Indiana picks for Big Ten ball are just one of many ways hoops fans can get in on the daily college basketball action.
You can make your picks on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks and earn real money. Just pick players, predict More or Less on their projected stats, and cash in if you’re correct. With Team Picks, make predictions on winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 34 states.
Stick around with the Playbook for continued CBB predictions, picks, and news.
