No. 3 Oklahoma vs. No. 7 Michigan State

Why Oklahoma will win: Oklahoma hangs its hat on defense, and it has good balance on offense. Ryan Spangler and TaShawn Thomas are strong in the paint, and Buddy Hield is a game-changing scorer who can wear teams down. The Sooners play hard, and they can play multiple styles. Oklahoma is in the Sweet 16, but the Sooners play with a chip on their shoulder that could serve them well vs. a focused MSU squad.

Why Michigan State will win: Michigan State is playing its best basketball of the season. The Spartans’ versatility forces teams to guard all over the floor, Denzel Valentine and Branden Dawson can score inside and out, and this team’s defense can be suffocating. Guard Travis Trice is a kid made for One Shining Moment, a slasher with the guts to beg for the ball with the clock winding down.

What will happen: OU will look to control the tempo and make Michigan State work on every possession, and Buddy Hield will make his presence felt early. But he also will be matched by MSU’s Travis Trice, and the perimeter shooting of Denzel Valentine will help stretch OU’s defense. Michigan State is going to be tough to beat in this one.
Prediction:Michigan State 70, Oklahoma 64