New Mexico vs. Michigan State Picks and Prediction – 3/23/2025

No. 10 New Mexico Lobos (23-10, 14-4 Mountain West) vs. No. 2 Michigan State Spartans (26-7, 12-6 Big Ten)
Time: 8:40 PM
Location: Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH

Previous Games:
New Mexico: 75-66 win over Marquette in the first round of the NCAA Tournament
Michigan State: 87-62 win over Bryant in the first round of the NCAA Tournament

Key Stats & Trends:
New Mexico has hit the UNDER in four of their last five games
Michigan State has hit the UNDER in nine of their last 11 games

New Mexico Breakdown:
New Mexico pulled off an impressive victory over Marquette in the first round, with Donovan Dent leading the charge with 21 points. Nelly Junior Joseph added 19 points, and Mustapha Amzil grabbed eight rebounds. The Lobos shot 47.3% from the field and 35.7% from beyond the arc. If they are to pull off an upset against Michigan State, they will need to maintain their sharp shooting and strong rebounding, particularly against Michigan State’s deep and talented roster.

Michigan State Breakdown:
Michigan State's depth was on display in their first-round victory over Bryant, with five players scoring in double figures. Coen Carr led the team with 18 points, and Jase Ricardson added 15. The Spartans shot 44.3% from the field and 38.5% from 3-point range. Their defense has been solid all season, allowing only 67.2 points per game, and they held Bryant to just 62 points in their first-round win.

Exact Score Prediction:
Michigan State 74 - New Mexico 66

Our Best Bet:
Under 148.5 @ -110