Michigan State Spartans vs Ole Miss Rebels Picks and Predictions March 28th 2025

Michigan State, Ole Miss Square Off in Sweet 16 Clash in Atlanta

Second-seeded Michigan State returns to the site of its early-season loss hoping for redemption, while sixth-seeded Ole Miss looks to continue a historic tournament run when the two teams meet Friday in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament’s South Region.

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Michigan State Seeks Offensive Rhythm

The Spartans (29-6) opened the season in Atlanta with a loss to No. 1 Kansas and now return to State Farm Arena with a reshaped identity. Head coach Tom Izzo has guided the team to its most wins since the 2018-19 season, thanks in part to midseason lineup adjustments that stabilized both the backcourt and the frontcourt.

Michigan State enters Friday with a top-tier defense but has struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 31.0 percent on the year — the lowest in the Big Ten. Despite the shooting woes, Jaden Akins has averaged 13.5 points in the tournament, and reserve Tre Holloman has provided a reliable scoring punch with 14 points off the bench in each of the first two rounds.

Izzo emphasized the challenge ahead, noting that Ole Miss is shooting nearly 50 percent from long range in the tournament and is getting hot at the right time. The Spartans will need to defend the perimeter more effectively if they want to advance past the Sweet 16 for the first time in five seasons.

Rebels Ride Historic Run into Matchup with a Blue Blood

Ole Miss (24-11) is in the Sweet 16 for only the second time in school history and comes off an impressive 91-78 win over Iowa State in the second round. The Rebels shot 58.2 percent from the field and drained 11 three-pointers, led once again by guard Sean Pedulla, who’s averaged 20 points per game during the tournament.

First-year head coach Chris Beard has quickly turned the Rebels into one of the tournament’s most dangerous shooting teams. Pedulla leads the way with 15.2 points per game and 83 made threes on the season, while the team as a whole is peaking offensively at just the right time.

Beard acknowledged the magnitude of facing a coaching legend in Tom Izzo but expressed confidence in his squad’s ability to rise to the moment.

“If we can play well, it should be a classic March basketball game,” Beard said.

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