The Western Michigan Broncos take on the Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing, MI. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.
Michigan State is favored by 27 points on the spread with a moneyline of -50000. The total is set at 147 points.
Here are my Western Michigan vs. Michigan State predictions and college basketball picks for December 30, 2024.
Western Michigan vs Michigan State Prediction
My Pick: Western Michigan Team Total Under 60 (Play to 59)
My Western Michigan vs Michigan State best bet is on the Broncos team total under, with the best odds currently available at FanDuel. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Western Michigan vs Michigan State Odds, Spread
| Western Michigan Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+27 -108 | 146.5 -110 / -110 | +1800 |
| Michigan State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-27.5 -112 | 146.5 -110 / -110 | -5000 |
- Western Michigan vs Michigan State spread: Michigan State -27
- Western Michigan vs Michigan State over/under: 146.5 points
- Western Michigan vs Michigan State moneyline: Michigan State -5000, Western Michigan +1800
- Western Michigan vs Michigan State best bet: Western Michigan Team Total Under 60 (Play to 59)
Western Michigan vs Michigan State NCAAB Betting Preview
We're headed for a lopsided affair on Monday in East Lansing as the Michigan State Spartans are set to host the Western Michigan Broncos.
The last victory for the Broncos was on November 27 when they defeated Youngstown State.
The Broncos are not only one of the worst teams in the MAC, but they're arguably one of the worst teams in the entire nation.
The Broncos rank outside the top 240 in offensive and defensive adjusted efficiency. The Broncos are shooting 28% from 3, which is 341st in the country.
If you think that's bad, the Broncos also shoot below 68% at the free throw line and only 48% from inside the arc.
The Broncos' offense doesn't take a lot of 3-point attempts, as they're near the bottom of the nation in the fewest attempts from downtown per game. I'm concerned about the Broncos, especially against an outstanding Spartans defense.
Not only are the Spartans a sleeping giant in the Big Ten, but they're climbing the ranks in the AP Poll. The Spartans are in the top 30 in both offensive and adjusted efficiency, and their defense is the true strength of the team.
The Spartans don't force many turnovers, but they're an outstanding rebounding team and hold their opponents to just 46% shooting from the field.
Considering that the Broncos don't take many 3-point attempts and already struggle in that area, I have a tough time envisioning solid offense from them. Not only do they struggle from 3-point land, but they're also going to have a tough time going up against an excellent defensive interior of the Spartans.
It's not that the Broncos don't have the length or the depth to match up with the Spartans. Instead, the problem is that their player personnel doesn't equate to the talent of the Spartans. The Broncos will struggle to score here, and I don't have much hope for their defense either.
The problem is that I can't back the Spartans laying such a large number at home because they've struggled from 3-point land to start the season. The Spartans are shooting 29% from deep, and they haven't taken a lot of 3-point attempts per contest, ranking outside the top 300 in that category.
Instead of targeting spread, I'll focus on fading the Broncos' offense here. I love the Broncos team total under, as I expect both teams to try and grind out this game.
Considering they're both slow, methodical offenses, there will be limited possessions, especially for the Broncos.
I will take the team total at any number lower than 61.
