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Miami vs. Michigan State prediction and game preview, as the No. 8 Hurricanes and No. 9 Spartans face off in the NCAA Tournament.

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The ACC and Big Ten square off in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, as Miami and Michigan State play for the right to move on. The winner likely will face Kansas, which earned the top seed in the Midwest Region.

Miami vs. Michigan State Game Preview

Date: Friday, March 17
Venue: BOK Center, Tulsa, Okla.
Region: Midwest

Miami Strengths

Guard play. Bruce Brown has experienced his ups and downs as a freshman, but he is capable of carrying the team for a few days. Senior guard Davon Reed’s shooting percentage is down this year, but he’s still tough to guard and capable of a big game.

Miami Weaknesses

The inside game leaves a lot to be desired. Ebuka Izundu, Dewan Huell and Kamari Murphy don’t provide much offense, so the Hurricanes are heavily reliant on their guards. The good news is that strong guard play can go a long way in The Dance.

Miami Hurricanes In-Depth Analysis

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Michigan State Strengths

The Spartans are young, but they’re not selfish. They’re among the nation’s leaders in percentage of assists on field goals made and work the ball until a good shot opens up – especially for standout freshmen Miles Bridges and Nick Ward.

Michigan State Weaknesses

Turnovers have plagued Michigan State all year, an issue that comes with the territory for such a young team. The Spartans ranked near the bottom of the Big Ten in turnovers with over 14 per game.

Michigan State Spartans In-Depth Analysis

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Miami vs. Michigan State By The Numbers

Miami Statistics

Scoring Margin: 6.7 (66th in the nation)
Rebounding Margin: 4.9 (41)
Turnover Margin: minus-0.8 (232)
3-Point FG Percentage: 36.2 (125)

Michigan State Statistics

Scoring Margin: 2.9 (145)
Rebounding Margin: 3.2 (85)
Turnover Margin: minus-3.2 (334)
3-Point FG Percentage: 38.1 (49)

Miami vs. Michigan State Prediction

Standout freshman Miles Bridges takes over for the Spartans, scoring 25 points as Michigan State advances to the second round.

Miami vs. Michigan State Score Prediction: Michigan State 77, Miami 70

MORE: Complete NCAA Tournament Bracket, Previews, Predictions