Michigan State is Top Basketball Pick This Week

By SBRForum.com

The Michigan State Spartans are always one of the most consistent teams in all of college basketball. They always seem to beat the teams that they should, and they seemingly never lose at home, even against some of the best that the Big Ten has to offer.

On Tuesday night, the Spartans have to contend with the Michigan Wolverines, who are just two weeks removed from being the No. 1 team in the country. Still, we think that this is a slam dunk of a game to selection, and as a result, it is our favorite of all of the NCAA basketball picks for the week.

To be realistic though, this is more a pick against the Wolverines than on the Spartans. Over the course of the last few games, we have really seen Michigan exposed. F Glenn Robinson III has been all over the place. G Trey Burke has been coerced to put up some questionable shots. G Tim Hardaway Jr. has turned the ball over a bit too much. It just doesn't look like the same Michigan team that was donned to be a Final Four pick just a few games ago.

The Wolverines have failed to cover all three of their games against the Indiana Hoosiers, Ohio State Buckeyes, and Wisconsin Badgers. This is going to be their third game this year as an underdog in conference play. They were beaten by both the Buckeyes and the Hoosiers in that situation.

Feb. 6, 2013; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Keith Appling (11) drives to the basket against Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Andre Hollins (1) during 1st half at Jack Breslin Students Events Center. MSU won 61-50. Photo Courtesy By Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports.

Meanwhile, Michigan State just continues to roll right along. The team has four covers in its last five games, and unlike Michigan, which can't beat the best teams in the Big Ten, the Spartans already have scalps against the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the aforementioned Badgers and Buckeyes. Add in the cover in Bloomington against the Hoosiers, and Sparty is 3-1 SU and 3-0-1 ATS to show for its work in the four toughest games that the conference has thrown its way since the start of the calendar year.

Michigan will be the next scalp that Michigan State claims.

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