Believe it or not, it’s already December. Michigan State and Duke are set to battle to tip off the final month of what has been a very eventful 2020. It promises to be an intriguing game between two teams with big aspirations for this season.
Unlike college football, there are plans for March Madness this year, where all teams will play in the same general location. Both clubs likely would have found themselves in the tournament last year, though it never came to fruition. This year though, it will certainly not be the case. There will be an opportunity to finish the season and crown a champion.
Tom Izzo and Mike Krzyzewski have had long, successful tenures with their respective programs. Each is hoping to bring a championship to their school in 2020-21. Izzo has a chance to pass the legendary John Wooden on the all-time coaching wins list this season, while Coach K can extend his lead as the winningest college basketball coach in history.
The spread for the contest favors the Blue Devils by 4.5 points. The over/under is set at 152.
Spartans Aiming for 3-0 Start
Michigan State opened up their campaign with a pair of double-digit victories. First, they were able to beat Eastern Michigan 83-67. They followed that up with an 80-70 win against Notre Dame. A win over the Blue Devils would propel them to a 3-0. Michigan State has averaged 81.5 points per game so far.
The Spartans have four players averaging in double-figures, though Joey Hauser’s 12.5 points per game lead the way. No one player has dominated, but they have won as a team. Gabe Brown has scored 21 points off the bench in two games, his energy a big part of the early success.
When you play a team like a Duke, though, you’ll need to find a guy that can get you 20+ points. Look for Hauser or Foster Loyer to take that burden on.
Duke Looking for Second Win in a Row
Duke struggled a bit in their opener but managed an 81-71 win over Coppin State at home. Their showdown with the No. 8 Spartans should prove to be a bit tougher.
The Blue Devils were a talented squad last year but were underachieving before games stopped. Their freshman class and sophomore Tre Jones were not enough for them to make enough noise. Duke has some fantastic young players now who could hear their names called in the 2021 NBA Draft.
DJ Steward had 24 points and nine boards in the Coppin State win. Jalen Johnson had 19-19-5 with four blocks, and Wendell Moore added 13 points.
Blue Devils Cover the Spread
This game could likely come down to a late-game free-throw situation, and even without the home fans, it’s tough to beat Duke in Durham. Take the Blue Devils to sneak by the Spartans and win their second of the season.
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