The first game of the 2023 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament’s Sweet 16 round is a big one, as the Michigan State Spartans and the Kansas State Wildcats collide in MSG. Will it be the Tom Izzo-led Spartans or the upstart Wildcats who’ll advance to the Elite 8?

Nitrobetting is ready to dish out key assists and lob passes with betting tips and news coverage throughout the 2023 March Madness tournament. This time, let’s take a closer look at the upcoming Sweet 16 matchup between the Michigan State Spartans and the Kansas State Wildcats, along with the latest NCAAB odds for this massive 2023 March Madness showdown.

Michigan State vs. Kansas State 2023 March Madness Sweet 16 Game Information

Next stop: NYC pic.twitter.com/MvGaIxoxRd

— Michigan State Men's Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) March 21, 2023

• When: Thursday, March 23, 2023, 6:30 PM ET
• Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
• TV: TBS
• Radio: WXYT-FM 97.1 FM (Michigan State) // Sports Radio 810 WHB (Kansas State)
• Live Stream: March Madness Live
• NCAAB Betting Odds: Michigan State (-2) // Kansas State (+2)

READ MORE: Arkansas vs. UConn 2023 March Madness Sweet 16 Odds and Preview

Why Bet on the Michigan State Spartans?

It’s not that surprising to see the Michigan State Spartans still hanging around in the national tournament. Whilst the rest of the Big Ten has been eliminated from contention, only MSU with legendary head coach Tom Izzo is left standing out of a conference that has eight entrants in the Big Dance.

Izzo is leading Michigan State to its 15th Sweet 16 appearance, and this season’s squad has lived up to the Hall of Fame coach’s expectations and then some. Senior guard Tyson Walker made eight of his 17 field-goal attempts for 27 points in the 69-60 second-round win over the sharpshooting Marquette Golden Eagles. Walker has yet to commit a single turnover in the tournament and has seen his NBA Draft value soar in the process.

What’s more commendable is that the Spartans’ defense has been on point, shutting down their first two opponents in the tournament to an average of just 61 points per game. It’s frightening to witness Michigan State make another deep run in the national tournament as a lower-seeded team, and it’s their balance and experience that will be tough to rival by young Kansas State.

Why Bet on the Kansas State Wildcats?

Whereas the Spartans have the history and experience on their side, the Kansas State Wildcats’ unpredictability has gotten the better of those tenured programs. KSU staged a huge second-round upset over the defending champions the Kansas Jayhawks, 69-75, to keep first-year head coach Jerom Tang’s magical maiden campaign in Manhattan alive.

The Wildcats are led by senior Markquis Nowell, who dropped game-highs of 27 points and nine assists against a Kansas team that had the best player in the nation the previous season, Oscar Tshiebwe, relatively in check. The upcoming duel between Nowell and the Spartans’ Walker will be fascinating as these two backcourt standouts look to outgun one another.

Similar to Michigan State, Kansas State has a defense that can shut down any opposing offenses they face. KSU was ranked 17th by KemPom in adjusted defense this season, meaning that they’ve faced some of the best competition around and are a top-20 defense despite entering the 2022-23 campaign as the team with the longest odds to succeed in the Big 12 under a new head-coaching regime.

Michigan State vs. Kansas State Betting Trends

• Michigan State is 7-3 in its last 10 March Madness games since 2019 (6-4 ATS).
• The Spartans are 4-2 in the last six national tournament matchups as underdogs (SU/ATS).
• The totals went under in each of MSU’s last three outings.
• Kansas State is 7-2 in its last nine games in the national tourney (4-5 ATS).
• The Wildcats are 3-2 in the last five March Madness contests as favorites (2-3 ATS).
• The totals went over in each of KSU’s last four games at the Big Dance.

Michigan State vs. Kansas State Expert Prediction

It’s youth versus experience in this Sweet 16 clash, and we’re inclined to side with the latter. Michigan State will be more prepared for the moment under Izzo’s guidance, but we do expect Kansas State to put up a great fight. This should be a relatively low-scoring affair between two teams with terrific defenses and with the contest coming down to the final possession and with the Spartans hanging on to a late lead.

Where to Bet on the 2023 March Madness tournament with Bitcoin

Nitrobetting offers a solid channel for those who want to bet on the College Basketball season with crypto. The power of bitcoin and its lightning-fast transactions make your March Madness betting more enjoyable.

This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more 2023 March Madness previews and articles, and don’t forget to check out the latest college basketball betting odds on our online bitcoin sportsbook.