Michigan State vs. Boston College Prediction, Game Preview

The Boston College Eagles will travel to Fullerton, Calif. to take on the No. 3 Michigan State Spartans in the 2015 DirecTV Wooden Legacy.. Below is the Michigan State vs. Boston College prediction and game preview.

Michigan State vs. Boston College Game Preview

Game Broadcast

Date: Thursday, Nov. 26
Game Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Titan Gym, Fullerton, Calif.
Network: ESPN2

Why You Need To Care

Like the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Michigan State is one of a few teams with both a top-notch football team and basketball team. The Spartans are 4-0, and even though the level of competition — with the exception of Kansas — hasn’t been stellar, they’ve still been impressive in their wins. Michigan State destroyed Florida Atlantic, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Eastern Michigan by an average of 32.3 points.

Boston College is also working with an undefeated record (3-0), but its schedule hasn’t been high-quality either. The Eagles have beaten St. Francis (N.Y.), Central Connecticut and Harvard. They’ll have a lot on their plate with the Spartans, who average 85.5 points per game.

Plus, it’s always fun to watch a championship contender like Michigan State go up against a quality opponent.

Why Michigan State Will Win

Tom Izzo-coached teams are always tough to beat. It also helps that the Spartans are the second best shot blocking team in the country (33 blocks). MSU can also rely on the fact that it’s shooting 40 percent from three while opposing teams are knocking down just 25.7 percent of their triples. Michigan State has tallied 97 assists so far, and if it shares the ball with the mindset of there always being a better shot available, it’ll be tough for BC to win.

Why Boston College Will Win

Conversely, the Eagles don’t need to use the three-point game as a crutch, though they shoot 41.8 percent from deep. What they need to do is use the threat of the long ball to keep the Spartans on their toes.

They’ll also need to try and contain Denzel Valentine. Do that, and Boston College could pull off the upset.

Players Who Matter

Valentine has emerged as a special kind of player this season. He’s averaging 15.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 9.8 assists per game. The 6-foot-5 senior guard for Michigan State is a triple-double threat every time he touches the floor. If he gets some help from freshman forward Deyonta Davis, who’s averaging 10 points and 7 rebounds per game, it’ll be a long night for BC.

Speaking of Boston College, the Eagles need Eli Carter to be the one who keeps the Spartans’ backcourt honest. Carter, who transferred from Rutgers to Florida to BC, is dropping 18.7 points per game and shooting 37.5 percent from three. Senior center Dennis Clifford is going to need to step up down low in order for the Eagles to take this one.

What’s Going To Happen?

It’ll be Valentine’s day in November. Michigan State’s tripe-double waiting to happen will torch the Eagles. He may not actually get it, but he’ll definitely be a stat stuffer for Izzo. The Spartans will force Boston College into some ill-advised shots, and Clifford will be held in check on the block. Carter will knock down a couple threes, but MSU should pull away in the second half.