Northern Iowa at No. 5 Michigan State: How to Watch and Score Prediction

WHO: Northern Iowa Panthers (2-1, 0-0) at No. 5 Michigan State Spartans (3-0, 0-0)

WHERE: Breslin Center in East Lansing, MI

WHEN: Friday, November 13, at 7:00 p.m. EST

WATCH: FS1

The Spartans are coming back home after a massive victory over the No. 2-ranked Duke Blue Devils.

Nobody gave Michigan State a chance. Vegas even had Tom Izzo’s team as 7.5-point underdogs, despite being ranked as the fifth-best team in the nation.

Jeremy Fears and company proved to everyone that the Spartans' hype train is real, laying waste to Duke, 79-73. Although that score may tell you the game was tightly contested, I’m here to assure you it was not.

Michigan State led for the entirety of the game and, for most of that time, by double digits.

Now, the Spartans will ride that momentum into a Friday night clash against a very good Northern Iowa Panthers team as Michigan State plays host at the Breslin Center.

The Panthers come in with a 2-1 record, earning wins against Cornell (IA) and Green Bay while suffering a 15-point loss to Furman.

Northern Iowa is allowing an average of 81.3 points per game, while the Spartans are averaging 88.6 points per game.

I'm expecting Michigan State to come into this game with some big-swinging mojo and lay it on thick against the Panthers. I would be pretty shocked if the Spartans do not drop 90 points.

However, sometimes after a big win against a top-ranked team, especially one where you played more like a football team than a basketball team, fatigue can become a factor. If Michigan State starts slow, this game might be more contested in the second half than most would expect.

A classic "trap game" mentality should be noted here. However, this Spartans team just looks different. Even after an emotional win, there should be no letdown, in large part due to the veteran returning core of the Spartans, who have been through a rigorous season before.

I would maybe expect down games from the freshmen, but those struggles should be picked up by guys like Fears and Jordan Scott.

The Panthers are averaging 92 points per game, but they have not come up against a defense like the Spartans. Michigan State suffocates its opponents and doesn't allow easy baskets. The team combined for eight blocks against the Blue Devils and averages 42 rebounds per game, which is 10 more than the Panthers.

The relentless attack will push Northern Iowa to the brink of just walking out of the building. Even though the Panthers average so many points per game, expect that number to diminish quite a bit after facing the Spartans.

My Prediction:

Michigan State - 92

Northern Iowa - 63