Michigan State vs Michigan basketball game predictions: Can U-M match Izzo's experience?

Michigan State vs Michigan basketball game predictions: Can U-M match Izzo’s experience?

Posted by author February 21, 2025 Basketball

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One of the best rivalries in college basketball is back in a big way.

Michigan and Michigan State basketball are set for a massive showdown at Crisler Center on Friday night (8 p.m., Fox), with first place in the Big Ten standings on the line.

In East Lansing, Tom Izzo has led the Spartans on a fun, somewhat surprising run through the first 26 games, posting a 21-5 record after a big disappointment last year following massive offseason hype. The Spartans find themselves back within striking distance of first place in the conference after dropping three of four games and then responding with huge wins at Illinois and at home vs. Purdue.

The Wolverines, meanwhile, are experiencing one of the best year-over-year turnarounds that we’ve seen in college basketball. Michigan won just eight games last year and can triple that total with four more wins over the final six games. Dusty May brought in a whole new cast of players and despite the group’s inexperience playing as a team, the Wolverines have time and time again flown past expectations.

Michigan enters the game having won six games in a row (all by four points or less), while the Spartans are arguably coming off their two biggest wins of the year.

Here is what our experts think might happen with everything on the line Friday in Ann Arbor:

Tony Garcia

Michigan State is more physical and has the knowledge of the rivalry. Michigan has the two most imposing players on the floor and a roster and coaching staff that believe. There’s a chance that U-M just doesn’t know enough about this moment and that Tom Izzo and Co., who’ve done it for decades, show them a thing or two. Then again, U-M has shown time and again this year that it has the goods. Somehow, someway, it happens again. The pick: U-M 78, MSU 74.

Carlos Monarrez

This should be one of the best games we’ve seen in this rivalry in a while with first place in the Big Ten on the line. It’s so big that Ian Burns probably won’t have to hand out flyers around Ann Arbor to remind people to show up. MSU has the defensive edge, but U-M has the size advantage and keeps winning close games. Homecourt won’t hurt the Wolverines, either. The pick: U-M 76, MSU 73.

Jeff Seidel

Michigan coach Dusty May has done a fantastic job transforming this roster. He’s a heck of a coach and this program is in great hands. It’s absolutely fantastic that these two teams have climbed to this level at the same time. But I gotta believe Tom Izzo will pull out some wrinkle in a last-second moment, coming out of a timeout, that will be the difference. The pick: MSU 76, U-M 74.

Chris Solari

The Spartans go into attack mode early and often, driving the ball hard into the teeth of the Wolverines’ defense in transition and in the halfcourt. However, MSU also struggles to defend 7-foot transfers Danny Wolf and Vlad Goldin before getting some key stops and hitting free throws late to salt away a third straight hard-fought victory. The pick: MSU 78 U-M 75.

Shawn Windsor

It has been a while since these two have met as the two best teams in the conference, and the matchups are as intriguing as ever. Who will guard Danny Wolf? Can U-M slow MSU’s fastbreak? Can the Spartans make a few outside shots? How will the Wolverines hold up on the boards? Dusty May is leading a remarkable turnaround in Ann Arbor and his team is showing poise and playmaking in close games. U-M will flourish again at the end and take control of the Big Ten race. The pick: U-M 69, MSU 67.