Michigan State vs. North Dakota State NCAA Tournament Odds and Predictions The 14th-seeded North Dakota State Bison will face the third-seeded Michigan State Spartans in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament East Region on Thursday. The matchup takes place at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, with tipoff scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET. This will be the first meeting between the two programs. North Dakota State, which has won four consecutive games, secured its place in the tournament by defeating North Dakota 70-62 in the Summit League Tournament championship on March 8. The Bison finished the regular season with a 14-2 conference record and a 27-7 overall mark. Michigan State, meanwhile, fell to UCLA 88-84 in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals on Friday. The Spartans, who have lost two straight games, tied for second in the Big Ten with a 15-5 conference record and a 25-7 overall record. The game carries significant betting implications, with Michigan State listed as a 15.5-point favorite in the latest odds. The total points scored are projected to exceed 143.5, with the over line showing strong historical performance. Michigan State has covered the spread in eight of its last 10 games, while North Dakota State has gone 5-5 against the spread in its past 10 contests. SportsLine’s Projection Model, which has demonstrated a strong track record in NCAA Tournament predictions, simulated the matchup 10,000 times. The model’s analysis suggests the Bison could have two players scoring 10.4 points or more, including Damari Wheeler-Thomas, who is projected to contribute 14.2 points. Michigan State is expected to have four players scoring 12 points or more, led by Jeremy Fears Jr., who is projected to tally 17.2 points.#big_ten_tournament #michigan_state_spartans #north_dakota_state_bison #summit_league_tournament #keybank_center
Michigan State basketball faces off against North Dakota State in NCAA tournament first round Michigan State, seeded third, will take on 14th-seeded North Dakota State in the NCAA tournament first round on Thursday at 4:05 p.m. The game will be held at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, and will be broadcast on TNT with radio coverage on Spartan Sports Network, including WJIM 1240-AM and WMMQ 94.9-FM. The matchup pits a top-ranked team against an unranked but highly competitive opponent, with Michigan State aiming to extend its NCAA tournament streak and North Dakota State seeking its first tournament victory since 2019. Michigan State enters the game with a 25-7 overall record, finishing second in the Big Ten at 15-5. The Spartans, ranked No. 11 in both the Associated Press and USA TODAY Coaches polls, have shown strong performance in recent weeks, including a strong finish to the regular season. Their offensive and defensive efficiency rankings—No. 24 and No. 13, respectively, per Kenpom—suggest they are nearing the level required to compete for a national title. However, their defensive numbers have dipped slightly, though they remain dominant on the glass, ranking first nationally in defensive rebounding and fourth in offensive rebounding. Junior point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. has been a standout for Michigan State, setting a single-season assist record with 294, surpassing the previous mark held by Cassius Winston. Fears, who leads the nation in assists at 9.2 per game, has been named to second-team All-American honors by the Associated Press and third-team by the Sporting News. Coach Tom Izzo, in his 31st season with the Spartans, has guided the team to its 28th consecutive NCAA tournament appearance.#tnt #michigan_state #north_dakota_state #keybank_center #spartan_sports_network
Monday Night Raw Tonight: A Major Showdown and WrestleMania Preview Monday Night Raw is set to air live at 8 p.m. EST tonight, streaming exclusively on Netflix. The event will take place at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, marking a significant moment in the WWE calendar. Two weeks after CM Punk insulted Roman Reigns’ father, the Tribal Chief is expected to face Punk again, with the match serving as a precursor to their WrestleMania showdown. Last week, Punk was attacked by Reigns’ cousins, the Usos, adding tension to the storyline. The Raw card includes several high-profile matches, such as Brock Lesnar’s return, Roman Reigns’ appearance, and a women’s championship clash between AJ Lee and Bayley. Other notable bouts feature Natttie vs. Maxxine Dupri, Stephanie Vaquer vs. Raquel Rodriguez, and a unique match titled “Original” El Grande Americano vs. El Grande Americano. Danhausen, who has appeared on every Raw since his Elimination Chamber debut, is confirmed to be on the show, with rumors suggesting someone may be cursed. WrestleMania 42, scheduled for April 18 and 19 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, will feature major title matches. The women’s championship will be contested between Jade Cargill and Rhea Ripley, while Stephanie Vaquer faces Liv Morgan for the Women’s World Championship. Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton will battle for the Undisputed Championship, and CM Punk’s long-awaited rematch with Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship will headline the event. The first hour of WrestleMania will air on ESPN, with the remainder available on ESPN Unlimited. Fans can expect a packed schedule of action, with the Raw episode setting the stage for the grand event. The night promises to deliver high-stakes drama, including the Tribal Chief’s return and the culmination of ongoing storylines.#wwe #wrestlemania_42 #keybank_center #buffalo #allegiant_stadium
