Michigan State 2019 March Madness Final Four Betting Preview

Coach Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans are back in the Final Four after the Spartans upset the Duke Blue Devils in the Elite Eight. Michigan State offers the second lowest College Basketball National Championship odds. Check out the latest March Madness odds, an analysis of Michigan State, along with a prediction on how far the Spartans will go.

Final Four Bracket: Printable March Madness Bracket 2019

Michigan State 2019 March Madness Final Four Betting Preview

2019 College Basketball Championship Odds: +160

Team Stats

Offense

Total Score: 78.26
Field Goal Percentage: 48.37
Three-Point Percentage: 38.05
Free Throw Percentage: 75.24
Total Rebounds: 40.63

Defense

Total Score: 65.08
Field Goal Percentage: 37.95
Three-Point Percentage: 31.44
Free Throw Percentage: 68.02
Total Rebounds: 31.74

Michigan State Spartans Playing Style

Izzo’s crew beat Bradley 76-65, Minnesota 70-50, and LSU 80-63 to set up the massive Elite Eight battle with the Duke Blue Devils. After winning the ACC Tournament, Duke entered the NCAA Tournament the overall 1-seed. A healthy Zion Williamson meant the Blue Devils were going to storm through the East Region on their way to yet another Duke Final Four. From there, the Blue Devils were destined to give Coach K his sixth National Championship.

Too bad for Duke and their fans, Michigan State had other plans. Izzo’s fellas fought Duke for a full 40 minutes, escaping the gargantuan Elite Eight match with a stunning 68-67 win. Beating Duke in such a low-scoring game tells us all we need to know about Izzo’s philosophy.

Tom Izzo used to coach football. He’s taken the bird’s eye view strategy you must have in football, change your style to match your opponent, to the basketball court. Izzo coaches based on his opponent. He produces game plans the same way New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick does.

Michigan State looks like a good 2019 March Madness Final Four Betting pick.

One day, Tom Brady’s throwing it all over the field. The next day. the Patriots are playing smash mouth football. One day, the Michigan State Spartans hoops squad is running and gunning. The next day, they’re playing a slowdown, defense-first style. That flexibility gives the Spartans a chance in the Final Four.

Michigan State Spartans Final Four Betting Prediction

Although it’s impressive how Michigan State upset Duke, college basketball oddsmakers and handicappers sort of had an idea an upset was in the cards. Duke was only favored by 2 points. That’s not a major endorsement. In fact, plenty of action fell on the Spartans to beat the Dookies on the moneyline.

The truth about Duke is that they might have faced some overrated teams in the ACC this season. Auburn squashed North Carolina. LSU beat Maryland while Minnesota knocked out Louisville in the first round. Florida State really didn’t challenge Gonzaga in the Sweet 16. Overall, Virginia’s the only team from the ACC that really played well in the tournament, and UVA needed a last-second shot in regulation to send their Elite Eight game against Purdue into overtime.

What it means is that we shouldn’t overemphasize Michigan State’s win over the Duke Blue Devils. On Saturday, the Spartans face a team that matches up much better with them than Duke does. The Blue Devils are horrible from the free throw line. Texas Tech shoots over 73% from the charity strike.

Not only that, but the best overall player in the Final Four, Jarett Culver, plays for Texas Tech. Although Michigan State looks strong, they’ll lose in their Final Four Semifinal match to the Texas Red Raiders.