Why I Think MSU Will Score the Biggest March Madness Upset
This was supposed to be a big year for the Michigan State University Spartans. We started out the season ranked towards the top of the AP poll. We brought back some star players from last season and added talent. But, then things got rocky. Games were lost, and we quickly fell out of the top 25 in the AP poll. But, my friend, never count Tom Izzo out. Never. It’s March, and here in Michigan, it’s the month of Izzo. I think MSU will be the biggest March Madness upset this weekend, and here’s why.
MSU pulls off big win over Mississippi State
I can’t believe how many national pundits had Mississippi State beating MSU. I’m looking at you, Charles Barkley. By the way, Barkley never picks us. Every year, I see him going against the Spartans. Regardless, it was at least 50/50, if not a higher percentage of experts going with Mississippi State for the win. But, the Spartans delivered. They won and won big, with a 69-51 final score. This wasn’t just a win. It was a statement. These guys are peaking now, and they’re ready to win.
March Madness upset
As I’m writing this, MSU’s next opponent is being determined with a UNC against Wagner game. UNC is ranked No. 1, and Wagner is No. 16, so it would be a shock to see UNC fall. It could happen, but, judging by the current score, probably now. So, if UNC wins, which is likely, MSU will have to play No. 1 seed UNC on Saturday (March 23). I think that this game could be the biggest March Madness upset in the first weekend of the tourney.
What gives MSU, a No. 9 seed, the edge over a No. 1 seed? Some may point to the Spartans’ weaker regular season performance as evidence that we aren’t strong enough. But, we’ve had a more difficult schedule than UNC. We’ve actually had one of the most difficult schedules in the league. What’s more, Izzo is a genius at working out MSU’s schedule, as he has the team play a variety of opponents from all different conferences. That makes us able to adjust to teams we’ve never played before and keeps our playing spontaneous.
So, the two reasons I think MSU is going to pull off a huge March Madness upset on Saturday are the team’s diversity of schedule and “bootcamp training” with a difficult schedule this season. Add to that Tom Izzo’s experience, and you have the perfect formula for an upset. Izzo is one of the best best coaches in college basketball history, with a 55-24 overall record in the NCAA Tournament. He has also appeared in the most consecutive NCAA Tournaments of any Division I coach, recently beating out former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski for that honor. A few experts are also predicting a MSU upset, including ESPN’s chief bracketologist Joe Lunardi, who says MSU knows how to succeed in March and will draw “the biggest surprise of the first weekend” by upsetting North Carolina. So, March is here. Let the fun begin. Reach out to me with your predictions.
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