Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan State Spartans Betting Preview

A busy Tuesday night in the Big Ten concludes with a showdown between the No. 22 Penn State Nittany Lions and the No. 16 Michigan State Spartans. At home, the Spartans are favored by 8.5 points, with an over/under of 144.5 points.
The Nittany Lions have been one of the streakiest teams in the Big Ten this season. They won five straight to close out December, only to suffer a three-game losing skid in January.
However, Penn State has rebounded with a four-game winning streak, including a road win against Nebraska over the weekend. The Nittany Lions now find themselves in the middle of the Big Ten standings at 6-4 in league play and 16-5 overall.
As for the Spartans, they are coming off a one-point loss to Wisconsin on Saturday. Tom Izzo’s team has now dropped three of its last six games in the rough-and-tumble Big Ten. However, Michigan State remains tied atop the conference standings with Illinois, albeit with three other teams within a game of them in the standings.
A Little Shaky
It’s no secret that senior Cassius Winston is the engine that makes Michigan State go. However, he’s had some up-and-down performances over the last month. There have been games when he hasn’t scored, games when he’s been too turnover-prone, and games when he falls well short of his average of 5.7 assists per game.
Against quality opponents, the Spartans need Winston to be at the top of his game, so his inconsistency is a serious concern.
Michigan State doesn’t appear to have the depth to overcome a subpar effort from Winston. Other than Winston, only Xavier Tillman is averaging more than 10 points per game, making scoring a little hit and miss for MSU’s role players.
Tillman, meanwhile, has failed to score at least 10 points on seven occasions this season. The Spartans are 2-5 in those games, so he’s also a good barometer for team success.
Two-Man Game
Much like Michigan State, the Nittany Lions have two star players they rely on game after game. Senior forward Lamar Stevens in Penn State’s leading scorer this season despite a drop-off in his production from last season. He’s averaging 16.5 points and seven rebounds per game, making him a handful for Michigan State on both ends.
Meanwhile, sophomore Myreon Jones should provide an interesting matchup for Winston. He averages close to 14 points per game but can also make an impact on the defensive end of the court when he’s not scoring.
Of course, the key for the Nittany Lions is getting production from their supporting cast. Mike Watkins gives Penn State a second big man who can score in the paint when teams can’t match up against his strength and physicality.
Also, Myles Dread and Curtis Jones are both capable outside shooters, but they can be streaky. If one or both is knocking down shots, the Nittany Lions can play with any team in the Big Ten.
Home-Court Advantage
Despite Michigan State’s issues this season, it has been incredible at home. The Spartans are 6-0 in conference play at home, with all six wins coming by double digits. Based on that, bet on the Spartans to win and cover on Tuesday night.