College Basketball Picks: Michigan State Spartans vs. Bowling Green Falcons

The Michigan State Spartans (9-2) hit the road for the first time since Nov. 28, which is a major factor to consider when making your against-the-spread (ATS) picks Tuesday night, as they take on the Bowling Green Falcons (5-4) at the Stroh Center.

College basketball handicappers will find that the Spartans are currently 12-point road favorites in the betting odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total stands at 123 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at this nonconference affair from a betting perspective, while offering a prediction along the way. 

Michigan State Spartans

The Michigan State Spartans are averaging just 62.7 points per game when playing away from East Lansing this year, which is why I find this number to be very high in the betting market.

Sports bettors will also find that the Spartans are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 nonconference games.

Bowling Green Falcons

The Bowling Green Falcons need to be aggressive on the offensive end against an opponent that leads the Big Ten Conference in defensive field-goal percentage.

Through the first nine games of the 2012-13 college basketball season, the program is leading the Mid-American Conference in shooting 73.5 percent from the free-throw line, which could play an important part in covering this number down the stretch.

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers back the Falcons as one of their college basketball picks Tuesday, as they've won seven of their last eight home games when the betting total is between 120 to 129.5. Michigan State is still looking for some leadership with Draymond Green's departure to the NBA.

College Basketball Pick: Bowling Green Falcons +12

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