Introduction to Michigan State’s Hot Streak
There aren’t many teams in college basketball as hot as Michigan State right now. The Spartans have won seven straight games to start the season, and they’ve also picked up three ranked wins: Arkansas, Kentucky, and North Carolina.
Recent Performance Against North Carolina
Thursday’s matchup with North Carolina was all Spartans late, as they turned a three-point lead in the final 10 minutes into a 16-point victory. Jeremy Fears Jr. and the Spartans couldn’t be stopped in the final minutes, and they were able to hold North Carolina to just 58 points. This was one of the best defensive efforts of the year, but the No. 11 team in the country is still hungry.
Expectations and Future Performance
Knowing how Tom Izzo and Fears are, this team is only going to improve as they won’t be content with a 7-0 start even though they’ve already exceeded expectations through the first month. Michigan State is considered one of the best teams in the country and some experts are even saying that it might even be a top-five team. It would be tough to argue that, especially after beating No. 12 Kentucky by 17 last week and another top-16 team by 16 on Thursday.
National Title Odds and Value
Yet Vegas has yet to really catch up. In fact, Michigan State’s national title odds have some incredible value. Looking at the futures odds, Michigan State isn’t even in the top 15 for national title odds despite having one of the best resumes in the country (one of just two teams to have three ranked wins already). Michigan State is +3000 to win the national title this season and +800 odds to both win the Big Ten as well as make a Final Four. If that’s not value, it’s hard to define what is.
Conclusion
I’m fully expecting the odds to update on Friday, but if you’re feeling a little froggy, it might be worth throwing a $5 on just because they’re way too low for a 7-0 team about to be ranked in the top 10. With their current performance and the odds available, Michigan State presents an interesting opportunity for those looking to place bets on the upcoming season. Their ability to consistently perform well against ranked teams and their hunger for more improvement make them a team to watch in the coming months.
