Ncaa Bracket Picks Matt Fargo Sports April 03, 2010 Michigan State Spartans @ Butler Bulldogs

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April, 03 2010 6:07pm EST
ATS: Michigan State Spartans +1.5 (-110)
LOSS for -5 unit(s)

Michigan State Spartans at Butler Bulldogs

Photo_cbb Butler has to be one of the more fortunate teams in the Final Four in a very long time. Taking not much credit away from the Bulldogs for being here but they were able to catch both Syracuse and Kansas St. in arguably their worst games of the season and for anyone who watched those games, Butler did nothing spectacular to end both of those top teams seasons. Now the Bulldogs are heading home and that is going to be a reason for a lot of people to be on the Bulldogs here and that is way off base. If the Final Four was being played at Hinkle Fieldhouse, well then things would be different. This game is being played at Lucas Oil Field for the Final Four and there is certainly no edge for Butler as it has never played there. Michigan St. meanwhile played two games at the stadium during last year's Midwest Regional, beating Kansas 67-62 and Louisville 64-52. As far as the crowd, this is the Final Four and all teams travel well especially Michigan St. who is not far away from the venue. The school's campus is about a four-hour drive from Indianapolis and many of the team's fans are accustomed to making a trip here each March for the Big Ten Tournament. Butler plays aggressive, smart man-to-man defense, but it's not like they're a pressing team that jumps into passing lanes and creates a lot of steals. They only ranked sixth in the Horizon League in steals per game, and they had 13 against Syracuse, which was about twice their average and they came back with just seven against Kansas St. Both Butler and Michigan St. play a similar half-court style and that favors the Spartans. Butler has had the luxury of a lot of missed shots by the opposition but now playing a team with similar strengths is a disadvantage due to the sheer difference in athletes and one huge edge, rebounding. The ability to limit second-chance opportunities with aggressiveness on the glass gives the Spartans more chances and negates an off shooting night, something both Kansas St. and Syracuse could not overcome. Michigan St. head coach Tom Izzo enters with an incredible amount of experience on this stage. Butler head coach Brad Stevens has been great but he has been a coach for just three seasons so the coaching edge goes to Michigan St. by a landslide. Also, the balance is outstanding as Durrell Summers and Korie Lucious from the outside, combined with Raymar Morgan, Delvon Roe and Draymond Green on the inside, make the Spartans versatile. Only 19 teams from outside the “Big Six” conferences have made the Final Four since the NCAA began seeding the tournament field in 1979. Of the Previous 18, only 12 made it to the Championship game so history is not on the side of Butler no matter how big the story is or how long the winning streak may be. Ironically, the shoe is no the other foot this season. As one coach pointed out, the heavy pressure the Spartans felt last year at Ford Field will be on their opponent, Butler, which will be the hometown favorite. 10* Michigan St. Spartans