Michigan State vs Butler Picks and Odds (Nov. 17)
- Michigan State is a 2.5-point road favorite against Butler
- Butler has won its first three, going 1-2 ATS
- Butler is 62-1 in its last 63 non-conference home games
Michigan State (1-1) is a 2.5-point road favorite against Butler at 7:00 pm ET Wednesday on FS1 as part of the Gavitt Games, which matches Big Ten and Big East foes. The Spartans blew out Western Michigan at home Friday after losing to No. 3 Kansas in the season opener.
Butler (3-0) has won its first three for the second time in three seasons. The Bulldogs opened the 2019-2020 season with a nine-game winning streak and won 15 of their first 16. They won the last meeting with the Spartans, 52-50, in the 2010 Final Four.
Michigan State vs Butler Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State Spartans | -154 | -2.5 (-114) | Over 131.5(-110) |
| Butler Bulldogs | +128 | +2.5 (-106) | Under 131.5 (-110) |
Odds from FanDuel on Nov. 16
Nothing symbolized Michigan State’s erratic-bordering-on-dysfunctional 2020-21 season than its 86-80 overtime loss to UCLA in the NCAA First Four. The Spartans led by five points with 90 seconds left in regulation but missed their final two field goal attempts and failed to box out while giving up a three-point play on an offensive rebound. It got worse in overtime.
Michigan State Reloads
The Spartans added Northeastern transfer Tyson Walker in an attempt to stabilize a point guard position that was in constant flux a year ago, and the early results are mixed.
Walker, a 6′ junior, has 11 points, eight assists and six turnovers in the first two games. Coach Tom Izzo understands the step up Walker is making, and he will get a long leash after averaging 18.8 points, 4.8 assists and 2.4 steals a year ago while being named the Colonial Athletic Association defensive player of the year.
Michigan State had committed 29 turnovers leading to 32 points in their first two games, including 16 in the 87-74 loss to Kansas in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden. Walker picked up two early fouls and did not score in the first half against the Jayhawks.
Butler Returns
Butler expects to compete after returning 10 of its 11 top scorers and 96.2 percent of minutes played from a team that was 10-15 a year ago and never won more than two straight in a Covid-affected scheduled that included 22 Big East opponents.
Sophomore guard Chuck Harris is averaging 15.7 points, sixth-year senior Jair Bolden is averaging 14.3 and freshman guard Jayden Taylor is averaging 13.3. Taylor has started the first three in place of Bolden, who responded with 21 points in 31 minutes in the last game, a 70-59 victory over Troy.
https://youtu.be/jvSOp914yS0
Harris led a balanced Butler scoring attack at 12.9 points a game and had six 20-point games a year ago. Graduate transfer 6’8 Ty Groce led Eastern Michigan missed the opener with a sprained knee but had eight points and six rebounds in his first game against Central Arkansas. He led Eastern Michigan in scoring and rebounding a year ago.
Guard Aaron Thompson, who averaged 10.4 points a game a year ago, will make his season debut after serving a three-game suspension for an undisclosed violation of team rules. He will handle the point in the Bulldogs’ three-guard attack. He missed the final month of the 2020-21 season because of a shoulder injury that required surgery.
Butler (+1900) is the fifth choice to win the Big East.
On the Glass
As is the Izzo way, Michigan State has made its presence known on the glass in the first two. The Spartans out-rebounded Western Michigan 58-28 in a 90-46 romp last time out. Six-9 Joey Hauser, back in the starting lineup after finishing last season on the bench, had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Senior forward Gabe Brown had 17 and 7.
⚔️ @bigten and @BIGEASTMBB teams go head-to-head starting today in the Gavitt Tipoff Games
Which teams are picking up a W? 👇 pic.twitter.com/dM8zGzFUr6
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) November 15, 2021
The Spartans also out-rebounded Kansas, 37-30, although it was not a decisive factor. Butler is averaging plus-10 rebounds per game in its first three. Sixth-year senior, 6’7 Bryce Nze, is averaging 8.3 points and 7.3 rebounds
Bring in the Noise
The Spartans piped in loud crowd noise during practice Monday in an attempt to simulate the atmosphere in Hinkle Fieldhouse.
The Spartans have not played a true road game since March 3, 2020, at Penn State, a week before the pandemic shut down the college season. Parents and family members were the only spectators allowed during home games a year ago. Capacity at Hinkle Fieldhouse is 9,100.
By the Numbers
Michigan State was 9-19 ATS last season, 3-8 on the road. The Spartans were 3-12 as a favorite. Butler was 11-14 ATS a year ago, 4-1 as a home underdog.
Veteran Butler should be able to handle itself on the boards as Michigan State’s newest point guard finds his footing.
The pick: Butler +2.5 (-106)
Jack has covered college and professional sports for various Arizona media outlets since the 1980s and has written for the Associated Press, USA Today and Baseball America, among others. He staffed the 2015-17 World Series and has staffed four Super Bowls.
