Michigan State vs. North Carolina odds, picks and predictions

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The Michigan State Spartans (5-2) and North Carolina Tar Heels (4-2) tangle in a Wednesday contest to decide 3rd place in the Maui Invitational Wednesday. Tip-off from the Lahaina Civic Center in Lahaina, Hawaii, is set for 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college basketball odds around the Michigan State vs. North Carolina odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.

MSU and UNC are both 1-1 in the tournament. Both logged Monday victories and Wednesday losses.

Michigan State defeated Colorado 72-56 Monday and then dropped a 71-63 affair against 2½-point underdog Memphis Tuesday. The Spartans were a minus-5 in turnover margin Tuesday. That loss snapped a 3-game win streak.

North Carolina, which is No. 13 in the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll, defeated Dayton 92-90 Monday and then suffered an 85-72 loss to No. 3 Auburn Tuesday. High-scoring UNC (the Tar Heels’ 89.5 points per game rank 11th in the nation) trailed throughout Tuesday’s loss in which it was tabbed as a 4-point underdog.

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Michigan State vs. North Carolina odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college basketball odds. Lines last updated at 12:12 p.m. ET.

Moneyline: Michigan State +170 (bet $100 to win $170) | North Carolina -210 (bet $210 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Michigan State +4.5 (-105) | North Carolina -4.5 (-115)
Over/Under (O/U): 157.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)

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Michigan State vs. North Carolina picks and predictions

Prediction

North Carolina 78, Michigan State 75

Moneyline

MSU and UNC met last season in the NCAA Tournament in a March 23 game won by the Tar Heels 85-69. That was the first meeting between the 2 basketball bluebloods in 7 years.

The Spartans led that game early and were down by just 4 heading into the final 10 minutes of play. They are a solid lean in this one, but a better play here at +175 or better.

PASS.

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Against the spread

Michigan State handled its business in easily covering a 7½-point spread in a Monday triumph over Colorado (72-56). And MSU coasted to the finish line in that one despite an off 2-for-21 performance from distance. The Spartans have been mostly solid and in their toughest games despite some shooting numbers that show some regression due.

North Carolina has at times been lackluster on the boards, and the rim-and-3-loving Tar Heels will find themselves up against an MSU five that does well to forces foes into lesser looks.

UNC had long stretches in its games against Kansas (Nov. 8) and Dayton that indicate a win by 5 or more points may not be too likely in this spot.

BACK THE SPARTANS +4.5 (-105).

Over/Under

The Under has cashed in 3 straight MSU November games when the Spartans are getting points.

Both teams have been quite good in forcing suboptimum midrange jump shots, and the likely game flow of this matchup is not rife with a lot of second-chance and transition points.

TAKE THE UNDER 157.5 (-105).

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