Michigan State Spartans vs Michigan Wolverines Picks and Predictions March 9th 2025

No. 17 Michigan vs. No. 8 Michigan State: More Than Just a Tourney Tuneup

Whenever Michigan and Michigan State meet on the hardwood, the rivalry alone is enough to make the game meaningful.

But with the Big Ten regular-season title already secured by the Spartans, Sunday’s regular-season finale in East Lansing is about more than just bragging rights.

• No. 8 Michigan State (25-5, 16-3 Big Ten) is riding a six-game winning streak and aiming to keep its momentum rolling heading into the postseason.
• No. 17 Michigan (22-8, 14-5 Big Ten) is reeling after two straight losses and desperately needs a confidence boost before the Big Ten Tournament.

Though both teams have already punched their NCAA Tournament tickets, this high-stakes rivalry matchup is far from meaningless.

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Michigan State Clinches Outright Big Ten Title

Michigan State secured the Big Ten regular-season crown outright on Thursday with a 91-84 road win over Iowa.

The Spartans were able to clinch the title early because Michigan fell to Maryland 71-65 on Wednesday, officially knocking the Wolverines out of the race.

For head coach Tom Izzo, this marks his 11th conference title and Michigan State’s first outright championship since 2018.

But despite securing the top spot, Izzo isn’t satisfied—especially after Iowa shot 47.6% and led by as much as 14 points before the Spartans stormed back.

“Am I happy we won the Big Ten? I’m ecstatic,” Izzo said. “But it’s Michigan week, so we start preparing for them right away.”

The Spartans overcame their slow start against Iowa thanks to their typical balance and depth, led by freshman Jase Richardson’s career-high 22 points.

But Izzo is concerned about defensive lapses, knowing that his team needs to tighten up on that end if they want to make a deep postseason run.

“Thursday was an eye-opener on what happens if you deviate from who you are,” Izzo said. “To win (the Big Ten) outright is great, but now we’ll see if we can handle a little success, because I didn’t like the way we handled it.”

Michigan Needs a Turnaround Before the Big Ten Tournament

While Michigan State is rolling, Michigan is struggling at the worst possible time.

The Wolverines have lost back-to-back games, including a 93-73 blowout against Illinois before falling to Maryland 71-65.

Head coach Dusty May knows his team is facing its toughest adversity of the season.

“This is a big test for us,” May said. “This is the most adversity this group has faced, and so we’ll learn a lot about ourselves here these next few weeks.”

Michigan’s Guard Play Needs to Step Up

If Michigan wants to turn things around, it must get more from its perimeter players.

In the loss to Maryland, the Wolverines’ 7-foot duo of Danny Wolf and Vladislav Goldin combined for 40 points, 23 rebounds, and seven assists.

The problem? The rest of the team shot just 10-for-32 from the field.

“I have a lot of confidence in these guys,” May said. “We have good players. I wish there was a button to get more playing up to their capabilities, but we’re not giving up on anyone. I believe in this group—just like I did when we recruited them.”

Earlier Matchup: Spartans Took Down Wolverines in February

These teams already met once this season—and Michigan State came out on top, winning 75-62 in Ann Arbor on Feb. 21.

The Spartans controlled that game from start to finish, dominating defensively and forcing Michigan into tough shots all night.

Now, with Michigan State looking to complete a season sweep and Michigan desperate for a rebound win, this matchup is set up to be a battle.

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What’s at Stake?

For Michigan State, this game is about maintaining its momentum and avoiding a letdown before postseason play.

For Michigan, this is a must-win game for morale. A third straight loss would send them into the Big Ten Tournament in a major slump.

Regardless of the stakes, this rivalry always delivers, and with March Madness looming, expect a competitive, high-intensity showdown in East Lansing.