In a thrilling turn of events, Michigan State pulled off a stunning victory against No. 8 Purdue at Mackey Arena, marking their first win there since 2014. Yet, despite this impressive feat, the national recognition seems to be lagging.
Tom Izzo's squad has been praised by many experts who believe this win showcases their potential to go all the way in the NCAA Tournament. However, Joe Lunardi's bracketology still doesn't bump them up to a 3-seed, keeping Purdue as a 2-seed despite the Boilermakers' loss.
This lack of respect extends to the betting odds as well. Despite victories over top teams like Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Illinois, and Purdue, Vegas isn't giving Michigan State the credit they deserve.
Checking out the DraftKings national title odds, Michigan State sits at +4500, holding the 12th highest odds to win it all. Surprisingly, they're trailing behind three teams they've already defeated this season.
Take Illinois, for instance, sitting at +1200 with the sixth-best odds. Despite Michigan State's overtime victory against them, Illini fans attribute the loss to Kylan Boswell's absence. Yet, both teams have dealt with their share of injuries, and the Spartans proved they could compete with Illinois.
Purdue and Arkansas also have better odds, at +3500 and +4000, respectively. While Purdue's Matt Painter consistently fields competitive teams, Michigan State's recent victory on Purdue's home court should tilt the scales. As for Arkansas, even with Darius Acuff as a National Player of the Year contender, their fewer ranked wins compared to Michigan State raises eyebrows.
In the end, the Spartans continue to fly under the radar, but if they keep up this level of play, it won't be long before the odds-makers and analysts take notice.