The top team in the Big Ten takes the floor tonight as the No. 8 Michigan State Spartans travel to take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The game is scheduled for an 8:00 p.m. start time and it will be televised live on the Big Ten Network. Currently the odds for the game have Michigan State favored by 9 points.

Tom Izzo's team has been battling tough so far this Big Ten season, but they struggled a bit with Nebraska the last time out. The Spartans only won that game by 10 points and the Cornhuskers got 18 points from David Rivers, who normally isn't a starter. State will look to get their 11th win in conference in this game tonight. Nebraska isn't the best team in the league, having just three wins in conference. A win tonight by the Spartans would also be the second straight season in which they swept Nebraska.

Sparty's Gary Harris had a huge game against Michigan on Tuesday, where Michigan State blew out the higher ranked in-state rivals. And he just didn't have a good game against Michigan, Harris is knocking down 54.3 percent from downtown in his last five games overall. Along with Keith Appling in the backcourt, the Spartans possess some problems for Nebraska tonight.

The Huskers will look for big games from Dylan Talley and Ray Gallegos at the guard position. They will try and stop a Michigan State backcourt with Harris and Appling that can match up, defend and score with anyone in the country. Playing at home should allow Nebraska to match the intensity brought on by Izzo's group.

Where State could punish the Huskers even more is inside the paint. Both Derrick Nix and Adreian Payne are playing well inside and Nebraska doesn't have what it takes on the inside. Brandon Ubel will have to battle hard on the interior and if he has a great game, the Huskers could hang around.

Michigan State has proven they can win in some tough environments and Izzo's teams always come hard and ready to go. Don't expect anything different tonight.

Free Pick: Michigan State 77, Nebraska 60

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