Michigan State Vs. Duke: 2010 College Basketball TV Time & Predictions

The 2010 college basketball game between Michigan State Spartans and Duke Blue Devils (host) is set for Wednesday December 1 (9:30 PM EST) at Cameron Indoor Stadium. ESPN will broadcast the game. Michigan State ranks 6th in the country, with a 5-1 record; Duke is the nation's top ranked team with a perfect 6-0 record. This article provides predictions and TV time for 2010 Michigan State-Duke game.

1) Michigan State vs. Duke Head to Head

The highly anticipated contest features two historic college basketball programs in Michigan State (Big 10) and Duke (ACC). Since the ACC-Big Ten Challenge first commenced in 1999, Michigan State has played against an ACC team 10 times winning 5. Duke has played against a Big Ten team 11 times with 10 victories. Overall, Duke has a 5-2 all time advantage over the Spartans. The last time Michigan State and Duke met was in the 2005 NCAA Sweet 16, with the Spartans beating the Blue Devils by 12.

2) Tom Izzo vs. Mike Krzyzewski

Duke's 6-0 start to the season is a continuation of the team's dominance over the past two years. This year's team looks just as good (if not better) than last year's championship team. Duke's key highlight this season has been its high-octane offense. The team currently ranks 5th in the nation in PPG, averaging over 90 points per game. This is mostly attributed to the Blue Devils' strong passing game (12th overall in assists) and pinpoint shooting (11th in field goal percentage). Furthermore, Mike Krzyzewski's crew has already defeated several quality teams including Marquette and Kansas State.

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Although Michigan State is off to a 5-1 start, the Spartans have not been as impressive as the Blue Devils. Aside from the loss to Connecticut, there have been three other games where Michigan State could have been beaten. Statistically, the team is only slightly above average. The Spartans rank 44th in points per game and 96th in rebounds. The one bright spot has been the team's field goal percentage, which ranks 24th overall. Even though the stats seem to favor Duke, Tom Izzo's team has historically relished the underdog role. One should not be surprise, if Michigan State will somehow upset top-ranked Duke.

My prediction for the 2010 college basketball game between Michigan State Spartans and Duke Blue Devils: Duke wins by the score of 86-75. TV time for the game is 9:30 PM EST. The game will be played at Cameron Indoor Stadium. ESPN will carry the contest live.

Reference:
ESPN.COM