College Basketball: Michigan State at Iowa

Big ten teams clash tonight, as Michigan State attempt to overcome their road opponents in the form of Iowa. The Hawkeyes are hot and playing some of their best basketball of the season. They will look to gain revenge for an earlier thirty point road loss to the Spartans. The game can be seen on ESPN at 9:00pm EST.

Michigan State is an impressive 18-6, but only 6-4 in the Big 10. On paper one looks at the Spartans and wonders how they are having such a hard time - In Paul Davis, Maurice Ager, Shannon Brown, the Spartans have players each averaging over eighteen points per game - yet they are just 2-4 in the conference. The '10' is notoriously merciless on road teams but nevertheless one expects better from them.

Iowa is 19-6 and has been the upstart of the Big 10 with an 8-3 record. They have a small lead over Ohio State in the conference. Although the Hawkeyes lost 51-48 at Northwestern last week, it was a game that they should have won. However, they did come back with an 70-67 win at Indiana on over the weekend. Iowa are unbeaten at home and are 5-0 in the Big 10.

Iowa's scorers are G. Brunner, A. Haluska, J. Horner. Combined, these guys are dangerous, averaging fourteen points per game - however they are perhaps not as well equipped as their opponents.

Michigan State is scoring about ten points more per game than Iowa, but also gives up ten more per game than Iowa. This is a big game for both teams. Iowa wants to keep the conference lead, while Michigan State is right back in the race if they can snatch a victory.

Michigan State has perhaps been getting too much respect based on their level of talent, but they have been poor on the road. We'll have to wait and see if that changes tonight at Iowa.

Go to our college basketball point spreads page for the latest odds on this game.