The second day of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament tips off around noon with a compelling clash between the USC Trojans and the Michigan State Spartans. The Trojans look to recapture the magic from their stunning campaign at the Big Dance in 2021, while the Spartans aim to extend their presence in the national tourney with another deep dun of their own.

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 first-round matchup between the USC Trojans and the Michigan State Spartans, along with the latest game odds for this huge 2023 March Madness showdown.

USC vs. Michigan State 2023 March Madness First Round Game Information

Up next: #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/tR2ftfs4zh

— Michigan State Men's Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) March 15, 2023

• When: Friday, March 17, 2023, 12:15 PM ET
• Where: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
• TV: CBS
• Radio: AM 790 KABC (USC) // 103.3 The G.O.A.T. (Michigan State)
• Live Stream: March Madness Live
• NCAAB Betting Odds: USC (+1.5) // Michigan State (-1.5)

READ MORE: Providence vs. Kentucky 2023 March Madness Odds and Preview

Why Bet on the USC Trojans?

There’s a decent balance on both sides of the ball for the USC Trojans, who finished third in the Pac-12 standings record-wise at 14-6 and an overall record of 22-10. USC doesn’t excel in any field in particular, but being a borderline top-50 team on both offense and defense this season gives the team a fighting chance to make a deep run in this year’s national tournament.

The backcourt tandem of Rejean “Boogie” Ellis and Drew Peterson has been the catalyst to the Trojans’ success. Ellis averages 18 points per game on 39.2-percent shooting from deep, while Peterson isn’t far behind with career-highs of 14 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per contest. USC complements its pair of standouts with stout play in the paint, as the team averages over five blocks per game as well (top-15 in the nation).

A 13-point with over No. 2 seed UCLA back in January marks the Trojans’ best win of the season. Head coach Andy Enfield no longer has the Mobley brothers anchoring the post like their Elite Eight campaign from 2021, but this year’s USC squad still has some promise of being a tough out at the Big Dance.

Why Bet on the Michigan State Spartans?

That’s 25 straight years and counting for the Michigan State Spartans, who are back in the Big Dance to keep legendary head coach Tom Izzo’s streak of making the national tournament alive. The Spartans are the No. 7 seed in the tourney but look far from a mere mid-tier program the way they closed their season out.

Over the last three games, Michigan State shot a staggering 57 percent from three-point range on the strength of its own dynamic duo of Tyson Walker and Joey Hauser. Walker leads all MSU players with an average of 14.6 points per game on 46 percent field-goal shooting, while Hauser is the top rebounder with 6.9 boards per contest. Both of them have been lighting it up from downtown of late, with each of them making over half of their three-point shots over their last five outings.

What could be a concern for Michigan State is its lack of interior presence, as the team is predominantly a jump-shooting team. Then again, the Spartans still rank in the top 10 of Division I in overall defense. For as long as they don’t face a front court-heavy opponent, they’ll be in relatively good shape. USC does not pose a real threat in the paint in general at that.

USC vs. Michigan State Betting Trends

• USC is 5-5 in its last 10 road games (6-4 ATS).
• The Trojans are 6-4 in its last 10 national tournament games since 2017 (SU/ATS).
• The totals went under in five of USC’s last seven road games.
• Michigan State went 5-6 on the road this season (4-7 ATS).
• The Spartans are 5-3 in their last three trips to the Big Dance (4-4 ATS).
• The totals went over in each of MSU’s last three games played in the national tournament.

USC vs. Michigan State Expert Prediction

These two teams matched up pretty well against one another, and the current betting odds would agree. We’ll have to side with the more experienced program, Michigan State, as any Tom Izzo-led Spartans team is always within striking distance of a national championship. The Trojans will put up a great fight, though, and we see this contest being decided by no more than two scoring possessions.

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.