Tom Izzo has a well-earned reputation of being the basketball coaching version of Joe Duffy: Mr. March. Lon Kruger becomes the first coach in NCAA Division I history to take four programs to the Sweet 16 or beyond.

The Sooners also have a prime-time player in Buddy Hield. We have the Sooners winning. The line is off because of the reputation of the Spartans. Michigan State has had a ton of success sending their guys all-out to the glass, but Oklahoma is a quick team that will force Izzo to pay for what got him here. He did not have to counter such quickness in the Big 10.

Oklahoma has vastly improved on defense as their points-allowed average is 13 points fewer now than a year ago. They ranked in the 90s in defensive efficiency nationally in Kruger first three seasons at Oklahoma. They ranked in the top 10 this season.

They are the only Power 5 conference team to start all five starters in every game. Look for that chemistry to continue to pay off in this close game in which the Sooners have both the edge and the points.

MSU has gone very well against bad defenses but struggled against squads the quality of OU. That is what we call the Peter Principle and they will struggle here.