BSNblog

Two teams that could be a big factor when the tournament comes around are two Big Ten powerhouses: Michigan State and Purdue. Those two teams will get reacquainted on Tuesday in a Top 25 matchup that will take place at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan. Home court advantage could be key for the Spartans as they are 13-0 on their own court to this year.

Purdue Boilermakers @ Michigan State Spartans

Online Betting Odds: Michigan State -3

The Purdue Boilermakers went through a rough stretch earlier this year and they will be very familiar with what the Michigan State Spartans are currently enduring.

The Spartans have lost two straight games and right now, the top team in the Big Ten is slipping. They started the year 9-0, which is the best start in school history, then they followed it up with two straight losses, which has provided a reality check.

Sparty lost to Wisconsin in blowout fashion and then fell to Illinois as well. Now they are back at home and have some questions to answer.

The Spartans may be without the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year, Kalin Lucas, who has not coincidentally been injured in the last two games. Lucas sprained his ankle against Wisconsin and then didn’t play against Illinois. Those looking for betting tips should know that the Spartans head coach, Tom Izzo, suggested that Lucas will play on Tuesday, although he may not be 100%.

Meanwhile, Purdue also endured a rough stretch earlier this year but is playing very well right now. The Boilermaker lost three straight in early January but have bounced back with five straight wins. The trio of JaJuan Johnson, Robbie Hummel and E’Twaun Moore has been one of the best in the nation and they are always a load to deal with.

But there is a good reason to expect the Spartans to bounce back. First off, the Boilermakers haven’t won in East Lansing since 1998. Secondly, the Boilermakers tend to struggle when they lose the battle of the boards and Michigan State happens to be the best rebounding team in the Big Ten.

Look for the Spartans to bounce back with a big home win on Tuesday.

Bet College Basketball Pick: Michigan State -3

Miami Heat (24-26, 8th in Eastern Conference) @ Chicago Bulls (23-24, 7th in Eastern Conference)

Betting Tips:

Spread: Bulls -3

Over/Under: 194

Money Line: Bulls -175, Heat + 145

Key Storylines

Bronze Medal: Who will stop Deng?

• Bulls SF Luol Deng is having a great season, improving his three point shooting significantly (career: 30.9%, 2009-10: 42.6%) and his overall shot and shot selection. Deng is now crashing the boards more than he ever (7.7 rebounds per game) and has added a physical nature to his defensive game. The Heat start Quentin Richardson at small forward who is 6-5…maybe, and will have no chance guarding Deng. I expect Dwayne Wade to cover Deng a bit, but that means Derrick Rose gets to feast on Rafer Alston’s exceptionally poor defensive game if he does. Deng averages 17.7 points a game and has become a coveted player throughout the league.

Advantage: Bulls

Silver Medal: Who steps up for Joakim Noah?

• Noah has been a big reason for the Bulls success of late with his defensive ability under the basket and his improved pick and roll game on offense. He will be out however up through the all-star break to rest his foot which has plantar fasciitis. Playing in his stead will be former All-Star C Brad Miller. Miller is a very different player than Noah as Miller is a good shooter and significantly less of a defensive threat. Miller plays away from the basket exceptionally well and can draw out bigs from under the basket allowing his skilled teammates to clean up on the offensive boards. Miller may be a better fit for Derrick Rose’s offensive game in much the same way Mehmet Okur compliments Deron Williams’. Expect Taj Gibson and Tyrus Thomas to split duties guarding the opposing big man threat on the Heat (which is the corpse of Jermaine O’Neal and the solid shooting PF, Udonis Haslem). The Bulls will play a more upbeat fast paced game without Noah and it may benefit them in this matchup.

Advantage: Bulls, Noah’s loss will force the Bulls to play a style that the Heat don’t play well against

Gold Medal: How do the Bulls stop Dwayne Wade?

• The short answer is they don’t. Wade is one of the premier players in this league and the Heat would be a lottery team without him. Wade is one of the toughest competitors the game has ever seen and does not shy away from trying to stuff dunks down the throats of power forwards and centers as well as swat their dunk attempts away. Wade is an average jump shooter, but is one of the best finishers at the basket in the game and is electrifying when he cuts to the hole. Wade has supreme instincts and seems to always find the passing lane on both sides of the ball. The Bulls will throw double teams at him when he goes down low with Kirk Hinrich certainly not enough to cover Wade alone. Luol Deng will have to step up at some point in the game and help out on Wade and that matchup will be exciting to watch. Wade likely will end the game with over 30 points win or lose, but he is the type of player that can win a game all on his own. The Bulls will not be able to stop him, but they can try to contain his ability to get the rest of his team involved on the offense.

Advantage: Heat

Prediction:

• The Bulls have been playing well of late and the Heat have stayed close against some of the top teams in the NBA including the Celtics and Cavaliers in the past week. I expect a back and forth game with two of the most exciting players the NBA has to offer in Derrick Rose and Dwayne Wade stealing the show. I like the Bulls to win this game at home, but it will be awfully close and regulation may not be able to decide it.

Final: Bulls 115 - Heat 109 OT. Take the over and the Bulls (money line) at home.

Bodog currently have the Colts listed as 5-point favorites versus the Saints, while the game's total is sitting at 56½.

The Saints defeated Minnesota 31-28 in overtime as a 4-point favorite in the NFC Championship Game. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under (54).

Drew Brees passed for 197 yards with three touchdowns for New Orleans in that win, and Pierre Thomas rushed for 61 yards on 14 carries with a TD.

The Colts defeated the Jets 30-17 as a 7.5-point favorite in the AFC Championship Game. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under (40).

Peyton Manning passed for 377 yards with three touchdowns for the Colts in that win, and Pierre Garcon caught 11 passes for 161 yards with a touchdown.