Surprising Minnesota can grab a share of first-place in the Big Ten by upsetting Michigan State on Wednesday night in East Lansing.
The Spartans, who have lost a shocking two in a row at home for the first time in more than a decade, have opened as 8-point favorites on WagerWeb.com. MSU opened conference play at Minnesota on Dec. 31, taking a 70-58 victory. The Spartans are playing the third of five games in a 13-day span.
With former leading scorer Raymar Morgan battling an illness for the past few weeks (he won’t play tonight), Spartan sophomores Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers have combined for 123 points in the past three games as Summers is averaging 18.7 points, and Lucas is averaging 22.3. Lucas is leading the Big Ten in scoring in league games at 19.2 ppg and had 24 vs. Minnesota the first time around. Morgan, who averages 12 points and six rebounds, had 10 points and 10 rebounds vs. the Gophers back in December.
Center Goran Suton leads the Big Ten in rebounding in conference games at 9.9 rpg and had 12 in the first meeting with Minnesota this season. The Spartans lead the nation in rebound margin and thrashed Minnesota on the boards in the first game.
If State hits 70 points, it is money. The Spartans are 13-0 when scoring 70 or more points, but just 4-4 when scoring fewer than 70. The Spartans are third in the Big Ten, shooting 46.7 percent, and are scoring a league-high 75.5 points per game. Defensively, MSU is 15-0 when allowing fewer than 70 points, but 2-4 when allowing more than 70.
The Gophers have lost four in a row in this series. The Gophers haven’t won in East Lansing since a 79-74 victory during the 1989-90 season.
Minnesota is led by junior guard Lawrence Westbrook, who is averaging a career-high 13.9 ppg but is the only Gopher in double figures. Minnesota is 15-3 this season when Westbrook reaches double-figures and 9-0 when he leads the team in scoring.
The Gophers have won six of eight games since the MSU loss, including impressive victories over Ohio State, Wisconsin and Illinois. They enter off a 23-point win over those Illini last Thursday (so they had plenty of time to prepare for MSU). It was the Golden Gophers’ first win against the Fighting Illini since Feb. 3, 1999, and their largest margin of victory over a ranked team. Minnesota, second in the Big Ten in field goal defense, held Illinois to 29.4 percent from the floor.
WagerWeb.com Game Trends
* Golden Gophers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Golden Gophers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a S.U. win.
* Golden Gophers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
* Golden Gophers are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
* Golden Gophers are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games overall.
* Golden Gophers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games as an underdog of 7.0-12.5.
* Golden Gophers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games as a road underdog of 7.0-12.5.
* Golden Gophers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a SU win of more than 20 points.
* Spartans are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games following a S.U. loss.
* Spartans are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
* Spartans are 23-10-1 ATS in their last 34 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
* Spartans are 13-6-1 ATS in their last 20 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Spartans are 41-20-1 ATS in their last 62 games as a favorite of 7.0-12.5.
* Spartans are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games.
* Spartans are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games as a home favorite.
* Spartans are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
* Spartans are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite of 7.0-12.5.
* Under is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings in Michigan St.
* Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
* Golden Gophers are 2-5 ATS in the last 7 meetings in Michigan St.
* Golden Gophers are 2-5 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
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