After the first week of college basketball featured a lot of lopsided matchups, Tuesday’s slate gives us some games with plenty of star power on both sides. Let’s dive into the Michigan State-Kentucky betting odds and trends, in what should be a thrilling matchup. For more NCAAB bets, check out the OddsShopper tool.
In the first matchup of the Champions Classic at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis , Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans will be taking on fellow blue-blood, Kentucky Wildcats. Per BetMGM, the Wildcats are currently favored by 6.5 points.
Michigan State-Kentucky Betting Odds & Trends
Per BetMGM data analyst John Ewing, bettors are favoring the Spartans as the underdog. 39% of bets and 38% is money on UK as the favorite, but bettors are still weary about taking Michigan State to pull of the upset, with just 40% of bets, 9% of money on MSU to win at +240. 59% of bets and 57% of money is on the under at 141.5.
For Kentucky, their offense will go as far as star forward and consensus preseason Wooden Award favorite, Oscar Tshiebwe, will take them. The reigning National Player of the Year has been out for the Wildcats’ first two games after undergoing a knee procedure, but he will be making his season debut for John Calipari against the Spartans. In the 2021-22 season, Tshiebwe scored 17.1 PPG, and was first in the nation with 15.1 rebounds per game.
The Spartans showed their ability to play with the heavyweights on Friday, when they controlled the game against Gonzaga for the first 25 minutes. But then, the Spartans had a late-game meltdown, and would end up losing when a potential game-winner fell harmlessly to the floor at the buzzer. MSU will be looking to big man Mady Sissoko to try to neutralize Tshiebwe. Against Gonzaga, Sissoko managed to frustrate star Drew Time down low, ending the game with 14 points and nine boards.
For the Spartans to have any chance against Kentucky, they’ll need a similar, or better, effort from Sissoko on Tuesday night.
