MSU-Purdue: College Basketball Feb. 15, 2009 Against the Spread

Michigan State – 3 over Purdue

The Michigan State Spartans (20-4) (10-2) are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, the Big Ten crown. College basketball analysts picked Sparty to slide after the loss of their superstar forward Raymar Morgan but MSU has proved that can win without him fairly easy.

Even more shocking, the Spartans have looked like a better team without Morgan in the lineup. In their past three Big Ten games without Morgan in the lineup, MSU is 3 – 0 with the margin of victory being 23.

Raymar Morgan’s backup is Sophomore G Chris Allen. Allen has stepped up and played a crucial role in Sparty’s last three wins without Morgan. Allen has averaged 11 points a game when Morgan doesn’t play this season.

The Purdue Boilermakers (19-6) (8-4) are two games back from the Spartans and would have to beat them in order to stay in contention for the Big Ten crown.

Purdue’s star forward Robbie Hummer has been there biggest plague all year. Fans set very high expectations for Hummel coming off a big ten freshman of the year season.

Unfortunately, Hummel has had a disappointing injury that has really set his season back. Hummel has missed four games in Big Ten play, including three of Purdue’s four conference defeats.

Hummel played 24 minutes with only one field goal in a close victory over Iowa in their last game.

Purdue G E’Twaun Moore has stepped up his play without Hummel in the lineup averaging close to 14 points per contest. Outside of Moore, Purdue really lacks quickness at the guard position. Michigan State should be too much to handle for the guards of Purdue.

Overall, Michigan State is a much better team than Purdue. They have explosive athleticism that I have not seen from another team in the Big Ten this season.  G Kalin Lucas off the dribble may be the toughest guard in America to defend.

Lucas is averaging 15 points and 5 assists and should control the tempo of this game from start to finish.

Michigan State all around is a better team than Purdue and has proved they can play resilient on the road in conference play. Michigan State has separated from the rest of the Big Ten this year as one of the premiere teams in the country.

With Hummel’s nagging injury, and Purdue’s lack of lateral quickness defensively. Michigan State will penetrate the lanes and kick out to their excellent three point shooters. Sparty can score points in bunches and my hunch is they take care of business and cover the spread vs. Purdue.

I believe Sparty will be a number 1 seed in the big dance when all is said and done.