The second game of Friday's Midwest Regional at Lucas Oil Stadium has the Big 10's Michigan State Spartans (28-6), winners over Robert Morris and USC in the first two rounds,playing the Big 12 regular-season and defending national champion Kansas Jayhawks (27-7), who beat North Dakota State and Dayton last weekend.
Online sportsbook BetUS.com is listing Michigan State as a 1 1/2-point chalk favorite over Kansas, with a total of 138, with the Spartans giving -120 on the BetUS moneyline, and the Jayhawks getting -105 moneyline odds.
Kansas is making its third straight and 26th overall Sweet 16 appearance with an 18-7 record in those contests. Michigan State has won eight of its last nine games after its 74-69 win against USC Sunday.
This is a battle of two regular-season champions as Kansas won its fifth straight, ninth Big 12 and 52nd overall title with a 14-2 conference record. Michigan State won its 11th Big Ten Championship, fifth outright, with a 15-3 record. This is also a regular-season rematch as MSU defeated KU 75-62 on Jan. 10 in East Lansing, Mich.
The Jayhawks are averaging 76.8 points per game and giving up 65.4 for a +11.4 scoring margin. Kansas shot 50 percent from the field against North Dakota State (March 20) to mark the 16th time this season KU has shot 50 percent or better.
Michigan State won its 11th Big Ten regular-season title with a 15-3 record. MSU lost in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament to Ohio State (82-70). Michigan State has been ranked in the top 10 on 13 occasions this season, including a current No. 8 ranking by the Associated Press and No. 7 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' polls. MSU is averaging 72.1 points per game and giving up 63.1 for a +9.1 scoring margin. The Spartans lead the nation in rebound margin at +10.1 (39.1 to 29.0) and also average 16 assists per game. Sophomore guard Kalin Lucas leads the team with a 14.6 scoring average.
