A second round battle in the East Region of the 2023 NCAA Tournament has the No. 7 seed Michigan St. Spartans and the No. 2 seed Marquette Golden Eagles squaring off on Sunday. Michigan State defeated USC 72-62 on Friday to advance to Sunday's showdown. Likewise, Marquette cruised to a 78-61 victory over Vermont on Friday.
Tip-off from Nationwide Arena in Columbus is set for 5:15 p.m. ET on CBS. The Golden Eagles are 3-point favorites in the latest Michigan State vs. Marquette odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 139. Before making any Marquette vs. Michigan State picks, be sure to check out the college basketball predictions and March Madness betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division-I college basketball game 10,000 times. The model enters the 2023 NCAA Tournament 79-53 on all-top rated college basketball picks this season, returning nearly $1,300 for $100 players. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Michigan State vs. Marquette and just locked in its picks and March Madness predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the college basketball lines and trends for Marquette vs. Michigan State:
- Michigan State vs. Marquette spread: Golden Eagles -3
- Michigan State vs. Marquette over/under: 139 points
- Michigan State vs. Marquette money line: Marquette -170, Michigan State +143
- MSU: The Over is 6-1 in Spartans' last seven Sunday games
- MARQ: The Golden Eagles are 4-1-1 ATS in their last six neutral site games
- Michigan State vs. Marquette picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Marquette can cover
Sophomore guard Tyler Kolek is a pure facilitator with exceptional court vision. Kolek does a great job distributing the ball while being a reliable shooter on the perimeter. The Rhode Island native is third in the nation in assists (7.6) with 13.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. On March 10 against Connecticut, Kolek finished with 17 points and six assists.
Junior forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper does it all in the frontcourt for the Golden Eagles. Prosper has good athleticism and finishes above the rim with ease. He averages 12.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and shoots 51% from the field. In the first round win over Vermont, Prosper racked up 11 points and six rebounds.
Why Michigan State can cover
Senior guard Tyson Walker uses his smooth offensive feel to get a score at all three levels. Walker has a quick first step to penetrate the lane and finish with either hand. Additionally, the New York native is knocking down 41% of hit shots from 3-point range. Walker logs 14.5 points and 2.8 assists per game. On Feb. 25 against Iowa, he totaled 31 points, four rebounds and five assists.
Senior forward Joey Hauser is another tough and strong option in the frontcourt. Hauser has an effective back-to-the-basket game with a soft touch around the rim. The Wisconsin native excels at setting screens and creating passing windows. Hauser averages 14.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. On Friday against USC, he amassed 17 points and eight rebounds.
How to make Marquette vs. Michigan State picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 148 combined points. It has also generated an against the spread pick that hits in well over 50% of simulations. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Michigan State vs. Marquette? And which side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that has returned nearly $1,300 on its college basketball picks this season, and find out.
