Game Day Essentials: Game #26 vs Michigan State - 2/16/2013

Michigan State Info

Team Nick Name: Spartans

Team Mascot: Sparty

School Location: East Lansing, Michigan

Last game out: Beat Michigan

Coach: Tom Izzo

Probable Starters:

Nebraska Cornhuskers

15 Ray Gallegos G 6-2 Jr.

24 Dylan Talley G 6-5 Sr.

2 David Rivers F 6-7 So.

31 Shavon Shields F 6-6 Fr.

13 Brandon Ubel F 6-10 Sr.

Michigan St

25 Derrick Nix C 6-9 270 SR

11 Keith Appling G 6-1 190 JR

14 Gary Harris G 6-4 205 FR

22 Branden Dawson G 6-6 230 SO

5 Adreian Payne F 6-10 240 JR

Last Time Out

Last Month in Michigan the Huskers played Sparty close despite only 4 Huskers scoring and without Brandon Ubel. David Rivers had one of his random scoring explosions to lead the Huskers with 18 points. In the end, Nix and Payne ended up being too much for the Huskers inside.

Husker Legend Weekend

Nebraska matches up well with Michigan St in the sense that Sparty isn't a three point shooting team and their slow tempo is exactly the game Nebraska wants to play. Since the last time they've played, but teams have switched to a taller line-up with State starting Payne over Valentine.

Michigan St is currently playing some of their best conference ball of the year after spending the last week dismantling Purdue and Michigan. Besides the home court advantage and homecoming of some of the best players in team history, the Huskers might have another advantage if Michigan St is looking ahead to their Tuesday matchup vs Indiana.

This seems like the "obvious" pick for Nebraska's nearly annual upset of a ranked team at home only because this might be the only ranked team the Huskers see at home the rest of the year (Minnesota?) Realistically, Sparty is just too good this year though expect the Huskers to make a game of it.

Prediction: Michigan St 62 - Nebraska 54