Who: No. 11 Michigan State Spartans (7–0) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (7–0)

Where: Jack Breslin Student Events Center — East Lansing, Michigan

When: Tuesday, 7 p.m. EST

Watch: Peacock

Vegas Odds: Michigan State -5.5; O/U 135.5

Big Ten conference play tips off Tuesday with a matchup no one expected to feature two unbeaten teams. No. 11 Michigan State will host the undefeated Iowa Hawkeyes in the lone regular-season meeting between the schools.

Both squads enter at 7–0, though the paths to perfection have come very differently. Michigan State has battled through three ranked opponents — Arkansas, Kentucky, and North Carolina — powered by the breakout shooting of big man Jaxon Kohler and the poised, high-level play of point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. Iowa, meanwhile, has surged under new head coach Ben McCollum, who arrived from Drake and has immediately transformed the Hawkeyes into a disciplined, defensively sharp group.

This is as compelling of a Big Ten opener as fans could ask for.

The Spartans’ perfect start has them sitting at No. 11, though that ranking is likely to rise when the new AP Poll drops this afternoon. Their convincing Thanksgiving Day win over North Carolina should push them into the top ten — a welcome lift for Michigan sports fans after a tough holiday showing from the Lions.

Tom Izzo’s team is led by a trio of standout playmakers:

Coen Carr — Arguably the most electrifying athlete in college basketball. His statistics don’t tell the whole story, but his defensive impact, energy, and highlight-reel explosiveness make him the heartbeat of this team.

Jaxon Kohler — The team’s leading scorer and rebounder at 14.6 PPG and 9.7 RPG, Kohler is playing with confidence, physicality, and joy. His interior presence, paired with Carson Cooper’s size and rim protection, gives MSU a major rebounding advantage most nights.

Jeremy Fears Jr. — The engine. Fears leads the entire nation with 9.7 assists per game and also leads MSU with 1.7 steals per game. He’s second on the team in scoring at 12.0 PPG, and as he goes, so go the Spartans. Izzo has a true floor general.

This week is massive for MSU. After Iowa on Tuesday, the Spartans welcome No. 4 Duke to East Lansing for a marquee noon showdown Saturday. But first, they’ll have to fend off a confident and physical Hawkeye squad.

This Iowa team has shattered early-season expectations. In just seven games, McCollum has instilled a defensive identity the program has lacked for years. The Hawkeyes are holding opponents to 61.1 points per game, a major departure from the high-scoring, low-defense reputation Iowa has carried in recent seasons.

Offensively, they’re led by senior guard Bennett Stirtz, who followed McCollum from Drake. Stirtz is averaging 18.6 PPG, shooting 45.7% from three (16-for-35), and was named MVP of the Acrisure Classic after averaging 21 points in wins over Ole Miss and Grand Canyon.

Iowa’s upcoming stretch is brutal: at Michigan State, then matchups with Maryland and Iowa State. Tuesday night will reveal whether this early success is sustainable.

All season long, superstition has ruled the picks — MSU over unranked teams, MSU losses predicted against ranked teams. It started as a lack of faith and has evolved into “not superstitious, just a little stitious.”

So the tradition continues.

Prediction: Michigan State protects home court, stays perfect, and sets up an undefeated showdown with Duke on Saturday.

Michigan State 75, Iowa 65