The Michigan State Spartans make a West Coast trip to face the Oregon Ducks late tonight.
Sparty has overachieved up to this point, at least relative to preseason expectations. This team started the year near the bottom of the Top 25 but has spent most of the season in the Top 10.
I break it all down in my Oregon vs. Michigan State predictions and college basketball picks for Tuesday, January 20.
Michigan State vs Oregon prediction
Michigan State vs Oregon best bet: Michigan State -10.5 (-110)
The Oregon Ducks remain shorthanded, which has been the story for a few weeks. Big man Nate Bittle will miss out again, and Jackson Shelstad appears to be out for the season.
Although the Ducks have been dealing with these injuries for an extended period, I’m still not sure it’s fully baked into the lines.
The Michigan State Spartans offense leans heavily into rebound-and-scramble and transition. That’s not a real surprise for a team void of shooters.
That’s a direct problem for Oregon, which already appeared to be relatively weak on the interior, even before you account for losing its best rim protector. Without Bittle, Oregon’s ability to end defensive possessions drops, and Michigan State is one of the better teams in the country at punishing second chances. It’s the DNA of a Tom Izzo-coached team.
On the other end, Michigan State’s defense is built to suffocate what Oregon wants to do. With Shelstad out, Oregon’s perimeter creation and spacing take a real hit, making it harder to access their preferred sets or keep the game competitive offensively.
Fewer clean looks, fewer second chances, and fewer creators on the floor is a bad recipe for an underdog. All of those point toward Michigan State -10.5 as the best bet, and I’d play it to -13.
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Michigan State vs Oregon same-game parlay
Jaxon Kohler has been one of Michigan State's most consistent players. He’s been a fierce presence on the backboard and a strong interior scoring force. His strengths perfectly align with Oregon's weaknesses, and I expect him to have a huge game.
Michigan State is the best rebounding team in the country and will have an opportunity to attack the backboard against a wounded animal of sorts. Kohler having a big night on the glass is highly correlated with him providing second-chance scoring for Sparty, too.
Michigan State vs Oregon SGP
- Michigan State -11.5
- Jaxon Kohler Over 8.5 rebounds
- Jaxon Kohler Over 12.5 points
Our beyond the arc SGP: Someone Has to Step Up
I don’t expect Kwame Evans to be efficient at all, but this play is born out of a few things. Sparty’s sinking defensive philosophy invites teams to shoot from deep. That’s why opponents attempt threes at one of the highest frequencies in the country. The increased volume Evans should have with multiple absences makes this attractive.
Michigan State vs Oregon SGP
- Michigan State -11.5
- Jaxon Kohler Over 8.5 rebounds
- Jaxon Kohler Over 12.5 points
- Kwame Evans Over 1.5 threes
Michigan State vs Oregon odds
- Spread: Michigan State -700 | Oregon +500
- Moneyline: Michigan State -11 (-110) | Oregon +11 (-110)
- Over/Under: Over 137 (-110) | Under 137 (-110)
Michigan State vs Oregon betting trend to know
Michigan State has hit the Moneyline in 30 of their last 37 games (+18.85 Units / 1% ROI). Find more college basketball betting trends for Michigan State vs. Oregon.
How to watch Michigan State vs Oregon
| Location | Stadium, City, State |
| Date | Tuesday, January-XX, 2026 |
| Tip-off | X:XX p.m. ET |
| TV | [1 NATIONAL or BOTH LOCAL] |
Michigan State vs Oregon key injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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