Michigan State vs Butler 2010 Final Four Predictions, Picks & Odds: A pair of five seeds, one carrying the banner of the Mid-Majors, another from the Big 10, hook up Saturday (6:07 pm Eastern) when the Butler Bulldogs take on the only team from last year's Final Four to make it back this year, the Michigan State Spartans in the 2010 NCAA Tournament semi-finals at Lucas Oil Stadium, in Indianapolis, Ind.
Despite the pointspread, Butler gets to play the role of the underdog this weekend, and in their own backyard. But this team is no upstart. The Bulldogs (32-4 SU, 16-20 ATS) went 2-3 vs. eventual Big Dance participants Minnesota, Clemson, Georgetown, Ohio State and Xavier during the early part of this season, then went perfect through the Horizon League, going 18-0 to win the regular-season crown and taking the conference tournament.
Meanwhile, Michigan State (28-8, 15-20 ATS) plays the heavy Saturday. The Spartans went 3-2 during early-season matchups with eventual tournament qualifiers Gonzaga, Florida, Wofford, Oakland, and Texas, then went 14-4 to finish in a tie for first place in the Big 10. But they got beat by Minnesota in the quarters of the conference tournament.
Michigan State opened the Dance with a 70-67 win over New Mexico State, beat Maryland on a last-second shot 85-83, held off Northern Iowa 59-52 and, in the Midwest Regional final, nipped Tennessee 70-69 to reach the Final Four for the sixth time in the last 12 years.
Unfortunately, during that second-round victory over the Terrapins, the Spartans lost point guard Kalin Lucas to a torn Achilles tendon.
NCAA Picks & Predictions: It's no secret that Michigan State's Tom Izzo is known as the best tournament coach in the land. His shorthanded Spartans have had a few days to prepare for this game. Take MSU getting the point and a half.
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