Gross Bombs: NFL Props for Week 16
Josh Gross
The 2022-23 college basketball season is heading toward March, and we have some exciting matchups with NCAA Tournament implications. Below is my favorite bet for Tuesday’s slate.
Michigan State vs. Indiana
(Line: Michigan State -2.5, DraftKings Sportsbook)
This run Trayce Jackson-Davis has been on over the past month has been historic, as he’s led Indiana to wins in nine of their last 11 games, raising them to their current slot of in the Big Ten standings, only two games behind Purdue. Sparty has been very up and down all year while dealing with a ton of injuries and now get to host the Hoosiers in East Lansing in a rematch after losing to them earlier in the year in Assembly Hall.
We know how much Michigan State struggles to defend the paint, and TJD absolutely obliterated the Spartans in that matchup going for 31 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 blocks. I would think Tom Izzo will have a much different game plan heading into this one against Indiana and look to throw a ton of double-teams his way and not let Jackson-Davis beat them this go around. Indiana is still without their injured point guard Xavier Johnson, which is where Michigan State can win this game, through their massive advantage on the perimeter. Even after getting dominated inside, the Spartans have won a lot of Big Ten games this year (especially at home) through the stellar play of AJ Hoggard and Tyson Walker on the perimeter. Indiana is very susceptible to the dribble drive and tend to overhelp, so we should see Hoggard able to get in the lane and make a ton of plays in this one. I’ve been waiting to sell the shorthanded Indiana rise and I really like this spot traveling to East Lansing (and coming off of a big win on Saturday against Illinois) to do so. I still think Michigan State fully healthy is one of the better teams in the conference and the Breslin Center should be buzzing for this one. Sparty needs this win to stay in the tournament hunt and TJD has to cool off at some point. I’ll lay the points.
The Pick
Michigan State -2.5
