Kansas vs Michigan State Odds, Lines, and Spread (Nov. 9)

• Kansas is a 4.5-point favorite over Michigan State on Tuesday night
• The game is part of the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York
• A look at the matchups can be found below with a prediction

After making ugly exits from the NCAA Tournament in March, #3 Kansas and Michigan State open their seasons at 7:00 p.m. ET, Tuesday, in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Kansas is favored in the game, which will be televised by ESPN.

Kansas vs Michigan State Odds

Odds as of November 8th at FanDuel.

Last year, Kansas was thumped 85-51 by USC in the second round of March Madness to finish with a 21-9 record. That came after the Jayhawks were forced to withdraw from the Big 12 Tournament because of COVID-19 issues following a quarterfinal win over Oklahoma.

Michigan State needed to upset Michigan in its regular season finale to slip into the NCAA Tourney for the 23rd-consecutive season. However, the Spartans blew a 13-point lead in the First Four and wound up losing to UCLA 86-80 in overtime to finish 15-13.

Kansas Adds Top Transfer

Already returning four starters from last season’s team, Kansas added perhaps the top player in the transfer portal when they landed Arizona State point guard Remy Martin.

Feels like #kubball may like this Remy Martin guy. pic.twitter.com/7Aq5P7n4ne

— 580 Sports Talk (@580SportsTalk) November 4, 2021

Martin was a three-time first-team All-Pac-12 pick for the Sun Devils. He averaged 19.1 points per game each of the last two seasons, leading the conference in that category in 2020-21.

Martin will be joined in the backcourt by fellow senior Ochai Agbaji. Last season, Agbaji led Kansas in scoring with a 13.7 average while shooting 42.0% from the field and 37.7% on three-point attempts.

Senior forward David McCormack provides a veteran presence in the frontcourt. He was just behind Agbaji in scoring in 2020-21 at 13.6 and added 6.5 rebounds a game.

McCormack can make shots from anywhere.

David McCormack: unlimited range pic.twitter.com/3gXleA6c31

— Jayhawk Video (@JayhawkVideo) September 26, 2021

Junior guard Christian Braun is another returning starter and coming off a season in which he scored 9.7 points a game.

The fourth returning starter, sophomore forward Jalen Wilson, is suspended for the first three games of the season after being arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence. He averaged 11.8 points and a team-high 7.9 rebounds a game last season.

Izzo Bemoans Lack of Respect

Michigan State is unranked in the Associated Press’ preseason media poll and that perturbs Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo. This marks the first time the Spartans didn’t crack the top 25 to begin the season since 2011-12.

Of course, Izzo is a fiery guy.

Tom Izzo and Gabe Brown get into it 👀 pic.twitter.com/kWncCN2Pkx

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 19, 2021

However, expectations are somewhat low for Michigan State outside East Lansing. The Spartans not only barely finished above .500 last season but the lone double-digit scorer on that team, Aaron Henry, turned pro.

Michigan State has two full-time starters back in senior forwards Joey Hauser and Gabe Brown. Hauser averaged 9.6 points and 5.7 rebounds a game last season while Brown had a 7.2 scoring average.

Transfer Tyson Walker should provide immediate help after starring at Northeastern. He was the Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year last season while having averages of 18.8 points, 4.8 assists and 2.4 steals.

Transfer PG Tyson Walker for 2. #MichiganState pic.twitter.com/0F7Z7ykdgM

— Rico Beard (@RicoBeard) October 2, 2021

Freshman shooting guard Max Christie was a McDonald’s All-American last season at Rolling Meadows High School in Arlington, Ill., as he averaged a double-double with 24.0 points and 10.1 rebounds. Michigan State is counting on Christie to provide scoring punch right from the start.

Kansas-Michigan State Prediction

The perennial powerhouse programs are playing for the first time since Kansas opened the 2018-19 season with a 92-87 neutral court win at Indianapolis. The Jayhawks have also won three of their last four matchups with the Spartans, dating to 2014.

Kansas holds the experience edge over Michigan State but will likely feel the effects on not having Jalen Wilson. Also look for Myron Wilson and Christine to make a quick splash for the Spartans and make it a close game.

The Pick: Michigan State +4.5 (-114)