No. 3 Michigan State vs No. 14 Bucknell Preview: Game Time, Channel, Betting Line, Prediction
EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 26: General view of the Breslin Center during the Michigan State Spartans and Wisconsin Badgers basketball game on January 26, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
The No. 3 seed Michigan State Spartans (29-4) take on the No. 14 seed Bucknell (25-9) in the First Round of the Midwest Region. The game will be played at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Friday. The start time is 7:10 p.m. ET.
Preview: Michigan State entered the 2017-18 season as one of the favorites to take home the NCAA title. With a solid returning core and a few star freshmen, the Spartans didn't disappoint, racking up 29 wins. After a loss to Michigan in the Big Ten tournament, Sparty is looking to get back on track against Bucknell.
Bucknell dominated the Patriot league this season en route to a 25-9 record. The Bison earned a spot in the NCAA tournament after a nearly 30-point victory over Colgate in the Patriot League title game.
Date: Friday, March 16
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
TV Channel:CBS
Location: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mi.
Announcers: Ian Eagle, Jim Spanarkel, and Allie LaForce
Opening Betting Line: Michigan State -13.5, per 5Dimes.
This is Michigan State's 32nd NCAA Tournament appearance, and the 21st consecutive appearance for the Spartans under Tom Izzo.
This is Bucknell's eighth NCAA Tournament appearance. It's the team's second-consecutive tournament appearance after getting bounced by West Virginia in 2017.
Prediction: The last time the Spartans were ranked this high it didn't work out too well. But this isn't 2015. Tom Izzo and company have learned from their mistakes, and Michigan State will dominate the glass en route to a big win. Michigan State wins.
