I'm getting the #6 team in the country at better than 2:1 odds in a neutral-site matchup? Please pass it over and thank you very much. Duke is the New York Yankees of college basketball and with that reputation comes a considerable premium attached to the Blue Devils' logo. Duke has also won 16 of the 20 meetings between these programs dating back to 1958 and owns an 11-2 straight-up record against Michigan State over the last 15 years. You don't think that means something to the market? Throw in Duke's #2 ranking, the usual hyperbole surrounding the Blue Devils, and suddenly the college basketball hierarchy gets reassembled with Duke sitting comfortably at the top and Michigan State occupying the rung below. But here's the question. Are the Spartans really that far behind?
The historical narratives and Blue Devils' brand appeal bolster Duke's price and now we're looking at a matchup where Michigan State is catching 6.5 points on a neutral floor. Remove those aforementioned elements and the price could be inside 4 points in Chicago. That in itself suggests a relatively competitive contest. That makes taking the underdog outright an intriguing proposition. These neutral-site encounters have historically been competitive for the most part and Tom Izzo certainly isn't a stranger to navigating high-profile showdowns against the Blue Devils. Make no mistake, the Spartans have the wherewithal and coaching to hold their own in this environment and we're getting the sixth-ranked team in the country at +225 because the opposition happens to be Duke. That's precisely the sort of scenario I would want to attack. I'll gladly take the generous price and back Izzo and Sparty to get it done head-up.
Michigan State vs Duke prediction: Michigan State ML (+225) available at time of publishing. Playable to +205.
