Cover Photo by Isaac Wasserman/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

MARCH MADNESS is here! 

Do you love Michigan State University sports? Why not show that love with some new gear? Fanatics has it all, on sale! Click our link to help support us. Can’t go wrong with new gear! 

MSU: https://fanatics.93n6tx.net/xL5nNA 

Michigan State, the 2-seed in the South Region of the NCAA Tournament, will face 1-seed Auburn for the right to play in the Final Four, Sunday, 5:05 p.m., in State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia. Watch the game on CBS. 

Google has published win probability for the game, and Michigan State has a 32 percent chance to beat Auburn. DraftKings has the Spartans as 4.5-point underdogs. 

There is good reason betting favors Auburn. The Tigers found their groove in the second half against Michigan, seemingly scoring at will on a 25-6 run that put the game out of reach. Turnovers fed the run, and Michigan State will need to protect the ball if it is to survive and advance. The Spartans had 10 turnovers against Ole Miss in the Sweet Sixteen, winning 73-70, after a spirited comeback from 10 points down in the second half. Any more turnovers than that seems fatal to the Spartans’ Final Four chances. 

Michigan State (30-6) has demonstrated a winning formula throughout the season. Run. Tenacious defense. Run. Flex its depth. Run. Score from anywhere. Run.

Most teams, even the ones that build first half leads, eventually fade, allowing Michigan State to take control. Auburn (31-5) is also deep, though, with five players scoring in double figures for the season. Their sixth leading scorer is at 9.2 points per game. 

Auburn scores 83.6 points per game as a team and gives up only 69.3. They force 12 turnovers, usually giving up just 9.4. Against Michigan, Auburn won 78-65 and evenly split 30 turnovers for the game. 

Michigan State scores 78.1 points per game, giving up 67.1. The Spartans force 11.2 turnovers a game, but give up 11.4. 

Look for Auburn to score less than its season average if Michigan State is on its game. This game might look a lot like the Spartans’ Sweet Sixteen matchup with Ole Miss, given Auburn’s size and strength inside with Johni Broome, who had 22 points and 16 rebounds against Michigan, and others. Expect the Tigers to build a lead in the first half until Michigan State’s style of play wears the Tigers down. 

Can the Spartans score enough to win? Can Jase Richardson repeat his 20 points from the Sweet Sixteen? That depends on rebounding. Ole Miss out-rebounded Michigan State 33-29, and nearly pulled off the upset, holding the Spartans under their season scoring average. If the Spartans shoot a high percentage from the field or win on the offensive glass, they have a chance. Turnovers will likely be close. Alarming for the Spartans is that Auburn just out-rebounded Michigan 48-33, and the Wolverines have two 7-footers. 

Anything can happen. This is March Madness. Tom Izzo is already a legend, and his team loves him. 

When speaking postgame after Michigan State won its way to the Elite Eight, Izzo said, “Elite Eights are great, too, but go back to my statement from the beginning. We don’t put up any banners for Great Eights. We put up banners for championships and Final Fours…” 

You gotta believe Izzo will have something up his sleeve. His team will be prepared, focused and determined to win by any means necessary. 

Let’s go Spartans! 

If you like what you read here, consider subscribing at a VERY low price, and you won’t miss an article! Or, you can donate in the bottom left corner, starting at as little as $.50 cents! Thank you for reading. 

Follow us on X/Instagram @MiSportsMedia, @JaceOSweet and @kpkbaltimore for all of your Michigan sports news! 

If you like video content, subscribe to our YouTube channel, where we host multiple shows, all about Michigan Sports!