Richard Pitino’s New Mexico squad upset Marquette to make the Round of 32 in March Madness for the first time in over a decade.
In hindsight, the Lobos’ draw may have been a light one.
The Golden Eagles had a hard time all season against good competition, going 6-8 against Quad 1 teams and taking advantage of the bottom of the Big East standings otherwise.
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Michigan State vs. New Mexico betting preview
At the same time, the Lobos didn’t have the most daunting schedule in the country, playing just seven games (going 3-4) against Quad 1 and two against top-25 teams (1-1).
That’s why Michigan State will be their toughest task yet.
Michigan State vs. New Mexico prediction
The Spartans have played well against the best teams in college basketball, winning 13 games against Quad 1 teams, which was the third-most in the country behind Houston and Auburn.
My money is on a big mismatch on Sunday, and a blowout win for Tom Izzo and Co.
The play: Michigan State -7 (-110, Caesars Sportsbook)
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Dylan Svoboda is a versatile writer and analyst across many sports. He’s particularly knowledgeable about the big three — MLB, the NFL and the NBA.