After cruising past North Dakota State with a commanding 25-point victory, Michigan State is now setting its sights on Louisville for their next showdown in Buffalo. The Spartans are coming off a dominant performance, while Louisville barely held off a late rally from South Florida to secure their spot.
Michigan State, now boasting a 26-7 record, looked sharp in every aspect of their game against North Dakota State. This victory also marks Coach Tom Izzo's fifth consecutive win in first-round games since their loss to UCLA in 2021.
Despite their impressive win, the odds for the upcoming Michigan State vs. Louisville game don't heavily favor the Spartans.
The line is set at Michigan State -4.5, with an over/under of 150.5. The moneyline sits at Michigan State -205 and Louisville +170.
The Spartans are the clear favorites, yet the odds don't fully reflect the gap in performance from the first round. Michigan State, a 3-seed that arguably could have been a 2-seed, dismantled the 14-seed Bison, while Louisville, a 6-seed, had to fend off a late push from the 11-seed Bulls.
Saturday's matchup promises to be intriguing, as both teams vie for a spot in the Sweet 16. Coach Izzo often emphasizes the importance of getting through the first weekend, and with a win on Saturday, the Spartans could be well on their way to another deep tournament run.