Final Four: Duke versus Michigan State
The Final Four tips off tonight from Indianapolis, with the first game between the No. 7 seeded Michigan State Spartans and the No. 1 seeded Duke Blue Devils.
This is a rematch of a game earlier this season on November 18 between the two teams. The winner of this game advances to the NCAA National Championship game against the winner of Kentucky-Wisconsin.
As of early Saturday, most of the sportsbooks had Duke as a 5.5-point favorite after moving them up from -5 thanks to money coming in the Blue Devils. Duke on the season is 33-4 straight up and 22-14-1 against the spread.
The current point total for the game is sitting on 138.5.
Mike Krzyzweski’s Blue Devils have returned for the 12th time to the Final Four. Coach K has won 4 national titles in 8 trips to the championship game. In the NCAA Tournament, Coach K has a record of 86-26.
Tom Izzo has reached the Final Four for the seventh time since 1999 at Michigan State. He has more victories 13 as a team that is lower seeded against a team that is higher seeded than any other NCAA coach in tournament history.
However, Izzo is 2-4 SU in national semifinal games. In the tournament, his career record is 46-16.
Duke arrived at the Final Four with victories last weekend versus Utah and Gonzaga.
The Elite Eight victory by Duke over Gonzaga was close until the final six minutes of play when Duke pulled away to take a 66-52 win as 2-point chalk.
Michigan State has had four tight games during the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans have defeated Georgia, Virginia, Oklahoma and Louisville. The Spartans won those four games by an average of less than 6 points.
This season, Duke has been a favorite in single digits on 12 occasions compiling a record of 8-4 against the number. Michigan State on the other hand has been the underdog on eight occasions this season with a record of 2-6 SU and 4-4 ATS.
In the game between the two teams last November, Duke won 81-71 as 8-point chalk.
That first meeting was decided at the foul line. Duke was 20 for 26 on the day from the foul line, while Michigan State hit 6 of its 10 shots. Michigan State outrebounded Duke in the game, 33-22 but Duke hit 54% from the field.
Quinn Cook the senior guard scored 19 and handed out 6 assists without committing one turnover for Duke. Jahlil Okafor and Tyus Jones each scored 17 points, while Justise Winslow ended the day with 15 points.
Pick: Duke 72-65
