The No. 17 Michigan State Spartans take on the No. 9 Kentucky Wildcats in a top-20 showdown at Madison Square Garden in New York to kick off the Champions Classic.

Kentucky Basketball vs. Michigan State Spartans

• Time: 6:30 PM ET on November 18
• Location: Madison Square Garden in New York City
• TV/Radio:
  • ESPN
  • Spartan Sports Network radio: WJIM 1240-AM and WMMQ 94.9-FM
  • SiriusXM Ch. 195 (MSU broadcast), Ch. 84 (Kentucky broadcast)
• Announcers:
  • Dan Shulman
  • Jay Bilas
  • Kris Budden
• Online Stream:
  • SEC Network+
  • ESPN app
    

That’s right — the top-20 showdown will be held at Madison Square Garden, a neutral site but credited to Kentucky as a home game.

This will be an awesome early-season battle, the type of game that reminds us how great college basketball can be in November. Unlike football, basketball coaches have no issue putting their teams into true adversity early, and it makes for incredible viewing in non-conference play.

Michigan State Outlook

The Spartans enter the game 3–0 after wins over Colgate, Arkansas, and San Jose State. Jeremy Fears Jr. is running the team with confidence and leadership. Coen Carr is still jumping out of stadiums. Jaxon Kohler continues to dominate as a big man and looks like a potential early NBA Draft pick. Freshmen Cam Ward and Jordan Scott are providing impressive bench minutes.

Areas MSU still needs to clean up:

- Turnovers

- Free throws

Kentucky Outlook

Kentucky enters 3–1, with wins over Nicholls, Valparaiso, and Eastern Illinois. Their only loss: Louisville, 96–88, last Tuesday. They will likely drop slightly in the next rankings update but should remain in the top 20.

Projected Lineups

Michigan State

• C — Carson Cooper (6-11) — 12.0
• F — Jaxon Kohler (6-9) — 14.3
• F — Coen Carr (6-5) — 11.7
• G — Trey Fort (6-4) — 5.3
• PG — Jeremy Fears Jr. (6-2) — 11.0

Kentucky

• C — Brandon Garrison (6-10) — 7.3
• PF — Mouhamed Dioubate (6-7) — 12.0
• G — Otega Oweh (6-4) — 13.0
• G — Denzel Aberdeen (6-5) — 15.3
• G — Collin Chandler (6-5) — 11.3

Betting Line

• Spread: Kentucky -5.5
• Over/Under: 154.5

Prediction

This game is going to be another epic battle, and I’m all here for it.

The last time the Spartans played a ranked team — Arkansas — I predicted the Razorbacks to leave East Lansing with a win. I was happily incorrect, but now I feel the superstition pressure. It’s like that Malcolm in the Middle episode where Hal bowls a perfect 300 and has to repeat everything he did because he doesn’t want to break the streak. That’s kind of how this feels.

As much as I do believe Michigan State can win… I simply can’t predict it.

Kentucky: 72 Michigan State: 70

• MSU covers the spread
• Total stays under