Michigan State’s defense is the key to its recent success, and it’s expected to play a crucial role in tonight’s matchup against Iowa. The Spartans have held five straight opponents under 70 points and rank second in the Big Ten in points allowed per game. Despite Iowa’s poor defensive numbers, Izzo’s team is well-equipped to contain them.
The Hawkeyes’ struggles are evident in their season-long defensive numbers, which border on abysmal. Coach Fran McCaffery has attempted to slow the pace of the game, but it hasn’t been effective, as Illinois and Northwestern have still found ways to score convincing double-digit wins against Iowa.
Michigan State’s defense has excelled in slowing down top offenses, contributing to lower totals overall. The Spartans’ recent form is partly due to their improved defensive play, which has kept games under 150 in the last 10 contests. In fact, Sparty is under in 14 of its last 18 games and 10 of 11, with an average score of 136 points during that span.
While Iowa can shoot well at home, Izzo’s defense is in top form. They’ll focus on taking away deep balls and using a four-man rotation of 7-footers to shut down the Hawkeyes’ offense. The pace shouldn’t be a problem for Michigan State, as Iowa’s defensive shortcomings are well-known.
Given these factors, SportsLine Model recommends taking the under against Iowa. With Izzo’s defense leading the way, this game is likely to be a low-scoring affair, and bettors can trust that Sparty will come out on top.
Source: https://www.sportsline.com/college-basketball/game-forecast/NCAAB_20250306_MICHST@IOWA