Wisconsin vs. Michigan State: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Spread Info and More

The Michigan State Spartans are hosting the Wisconsin Badgers for the second meeting between these two Big Ten powerhouses.

It’s going to be an exciting game for the whole country to watch on national television.

Keep reading to see if Wisconsin has what it takes to come into East Lansing and pull off an upset, and much more.

Where: Breslin Center, East Lansing, MI

When: Thursday, February 16 at 7:00 p.m. EDT

Watch: ESPN, ESPN 3 (Live Stream)

Betting Line: Michigan State (-6), Over/Under 116.5 (via ScoresAndOdds.com)

Key Injuries

There are no significant injuries to report for either team.

What's at Stake?

Both of these teams are in contention for the Big Ten title this season and need to make a statement tonight.

Michigan State can assert their dominance over Wisconsin by beating them a second time and proving they are the better squad.

The Badgers are hoping to prove their Jan. 3 overtime loss at home to the Spartans was a fluke and even out the series as the 2011-12 campaign comes to a close.

What They're Saying

Joe Rexrode of The Lansing State Journal reported that MSU coach Tom Izzo can’t really figure out why his team is the best defensive one he has ever coached, but he doesn’t mind:

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“I just can’t figure out the reasons, so keep me dreaming, keep me sleeping,” said Izzo. “I don’t really know why, because I think we’ve had better defensive teams that were committed to it, too. And yet I think we’re playing better people (now in the Big Ten). So that one’s a little bit of a mystery to me.”

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Jim Polzin of The Wisconsin State Journal has some harrowing facts for Badgers fans about how the team has fared on the road at Michigan State:

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UW’s 60-70 all-time record against Michigan State includes a 14-44 mark in East Lansing. The Badgers have lost their last six games at the Breslin Center since a 68-64 overtime victory over the Spartans on March 2, 2004.

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Most Important Player to Watch: Draymond Green

Green is averaging 15.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.

He’s an absolute force for this Sparty squad and is making a case to be a first-round pick in the 2012 NBA draft.

Key Matchup: Defense

The Spartans have an advantage in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage.

Wisconsin is going to have to play good team defense to stay in the game—luckily something they pride themselves on.

Prediction

Michigan State 67, Wisconsin 62

This is going to be a close game, but Wisconsin’s lack of scoring ability is going to catch up to them late in the game.

Expect Sparty to make a run in the second half to win it.