Michigan State vs. Northeastern Prediction, Game Preview

The Michigan State Spartans will go on the road to Boston, Mass. to take on the Northeastern Huskies in Matthews Arena. Below is the Michigan State vs. Northeastern prediction and game preview.

Michigan State vs. Northeastern Game Preview

Game Broadcast

Date: Saturday, Dec. 19
Game Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Matthews Arena, Boston, Mass.
Network: NBCSN

Why You Need To Care

It’s the No. 1 team in all the land, the Michigan State Spartans. And they’re led by one of the best players — if not the best player — in all of college basketball: Denzel Valentine.

Michigan State is 11-0 in spite of the Florida Gators nearly stealing one in East Lansing, Mich. a week ago.
 
Northeastern enters this matchup as the clear-cut underdog, standing at 7-3 on the season. The Huskies dropped back-to-back games on the road against Detroit and Western Michigan before bouncing back with a 75-62 win against Stony Brook last week.

Why Michigan State Will Win

There is no player in college basketball whom you should bet money on to stop Valentine from doing his thing. Tom Izzo’s senior guard has been a triple-double threat in every game (maybe excluding the Florida game). Valentine will have to stroke the three-point shot to make the Huskies respect his perimeter game, and that’s when he’ll drive and dish. With Bryn Forbes will be sitting hungrily behind the arc, and when Valentine swings it to him, Forbes will bury the triple.

Why Northeastern Will Win

Double-team Valentine. Triple-team Valentine. It doesn’t matter if you pay the mascot to to tackle the kid, just do whatever you can to stop Michigan State’s leader from getting into a rhythm. If that somehow works out for Northeastern, then it will be up to David Walker to lead the offensive attack. He’s shooting 46.4 percent from three and leading the team with 21.5 points per game. He’ll have to set the tone on both ends though.

What’s Going To Happen?

The Spartans will look to use this matchup against the Huskies as a statement game after nearly losing to the Gators. Valentine won’t snag a triple-double here, but he’ll come pretty close. Forbes will knock in at least three jumpers from the outside, and Walker won’t be able to score enough to sustain a chance for a Northeastern comeback. Michigan State has this one locked up halfway through the second half.