Michigan State vs USC Prediction 2/1/25 College Basketball Picks

The Michigan State Spartans and the USC Trojans meet Saturday in college basketball action from the Galen Center. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Michigan State vs. USC prediction.

Michigan State Recap

The Michigan State Spartans come into this game looking to add on to their 73-51 win over Minnesota last time out to improve to 18-2 on the year. After this game, Michigan State will head on the road once again for a matchup with UCLA.

Spartans Looking To Keep Double-Digit Win Streak Alive

Jaden Akins leads the Spartans in scoring with 13.9 PPG along with 3.9 RPG as the lone double-digit scorer for Michigan State so far this year. Jase Richardson posted 9.2 PPG with 2.5 RPG and 1.8 APG while Frankie Fidler has 9 PPG and 3.4 RPG and Jaxon Kohler has 7.9 PPG with 7.9 RPG to lead the Spartans on the glass. Coen Carr has 8.6 PPG with 3.6 RPG and Jeremy Fears Jr. has dished out a team-high 6.4 APG as well on the year. As a team, Michigan State is averaging 81.7 PPG on 47.5% shooting from the field, 28.8% from three, and 81.3% from the foul line this season.

Why the Michigan State Spartans will win

• Michigan State has won each of its last 13 games.

USC Recap

The USC Trojans come into this game looking to rebound from an 82-76 loss at the hands of UCLA last time out to fall to 12-8 on the year. After this game, USC will head on the road for a matchup with Northwestern.

Trojans Looking To Bounce Back

Desmond Claude leads USC in scoring and assists with 16.1 PPG and 4.3 APG along with 3.7 RPG while Chibuzo Agbo has 11.6 PPG with 5 RPG. Wesley Yates III has 11.4 PPG while Saint Thomas has 11.1 PPG with a team-high 6.1 RPG to lead the Trojans on the glass so far this season. Josh Cohen also has 7.4 PPG with 2.4 RPG while Rashaun Agee has 7 PPG with 3.5 RPG as well on the year. As a team, USC is averaging 77 PPG on 48.2% shooting from the field, 34.8% from three, and 73.7% from the foul line this season. 

Why the USC Trojans will win

• USC has won five of its last six games following a home loss.

Total Points Facts

• Each of USC’s last seven games against Conference opponents has produced a total of 151+ points.
• Eleven of Michigan State’s last 13 day games against non-AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 146 or fewer points.

Michigan State vs. USC Prediction

I’m on Michigan State in this game. I get why you could look at USC as an underdog, but the thing is that while I expected there to be some adjustment and maybe some struggles for these long road trips in the ACC and Big Ten to and from the Pac-12 defectors like USC, UCLA, and Washington as well as Cal and Stanford in the ACC, both to and from these sites, that hasn’t been something that USC’s been able to take advantage of if we’re looking at a lot of their results. The Spartans are legit, and I just think that until I really have a reason to deviate from backing Michigan State, I’m going to keep rolling with the Spartans here. Give me Michigan State laying the points.