The 10th-ranked Michigan State Spartans will look to close out their non-conference schedule on a roll when they face the High Point Panthers on Wednesday afternoon. The Spartans (10-2), who have won 10 of their past 11 games, are playing just their second game in the last 18 days, but will be dealing with a COVID-19 breakout on the team. Out for Wednesday's game are senior forward Marcus Bingham Jr., the team's second-leading scorer, freshman guard Max Christie, freshman Pierre Brooks and guard Steven Izzo. Michigan State defeated Oakland 90-78 last Tuesday. The Panthers (6-6), who have won three of their last five, defeated Florida Atlantic 55-52 in their last game before the holidays.
Tipoff from the Breslin Center is set for 3 p.m. ET. The Spartans are 23.5-point favorites in the latest High Point vs. Michigan State odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is set at 136. Before making any Michigan State vs. High Point picks, check out the college basketball predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of almost $2,200 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Michigan State vs. High Point and revealed its coveted picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's college basketball picks. Here are several college basketball odds and betting lines for High Point vs. Michigan State:
- High Point vs. Michigan State spread: Michigan State -23.5
- High Point vs. Michigan State over-under: 136 points
- HP: The Panthers are 4-0 against the spread against a team with a winning percentage above .600
- MSU: The Spartans are 3-0-1 ATS in their last four Wednesday games
Why Michigan State can cover
The Spartans are led in scoring by senior forward Gabe Brown, who has reached double figures in all but one game this season. He is one of four Michigan State players who average nine points or better. Brown, who is hitting on 44.4 percent of his field goals and 82.8 percent of his free throws, is averaging 13.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. He scored 14 points in the win over Oakland, and has registered one double-double on the year.
With Bingham Jr. out, junior forward Malik Hall will look to step in and provide some offense. He is third on the team in scoring at 9.9 points per game, and has reached double figures in five contests. Hall scored a season-high 24 points and grabbed seven rebounds in a 63-61 win over Loyola Chicago. In the Spartans' last game against Oakland, he scored 13 points in 17 minutes of action.
Why High Point can cover
The Panthers enter the game with three players averaging 11 or more points. Junior guard John-Michael Wright leads High Point, averaging 20.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists. He is even better on the road. In four road games, he is averaging 23.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists. He has scored 20 or more points in two of the Panthers' last three contests, including a 28-point performance in a 71-69 overtime loss to UNC-Wilmington on Dec. 18.
Sophomore forward Zack Austin has also bolstered the Panthers' offense, scoring in double figures in all 12 games. He has scored a season-high 20 points three times, the last coming in a 67-66 loss to South Carolina State on Dec. 10. He has posted two double-doubles, including a 14-point, 12-rebound effort in a win over Guilford on Dec. 7. For the season, he is averaging 13.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.4 blocks, 1.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
How to make High Point vs. Michigan State picks
SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 137 points. The model also says one side of the spread has all the value. You can only see the model's picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Michigan State vs. High Point? And which side of the spread has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its college basketball picks, and find out.
