Michigan State vs. Nebraska tipoff: Preview analysis, prediction

•What: Michigan State vs. Nebraska

•When: 4:30 p.m. Sunday

•Where: Breslin Center, East Lansing

•TV/Radio: FS1 / Spartan Sports Network, including WJIM 1240-AM and WMMQ 94.9-FM

•Records/Rankings: MSU is 6-1 and ranked No. 3 in both major polls; Nebraska is 6-2 and unranked. This is the Big Ten opener for both teams.

•Coaches: MSU — Tom Izzo is 550-221 in his 23rd season, all with the Spartans. Nebraska — Tim Miles is 364-308 in his 23rd season, including 81-88 in his sixth year with the Huskers.

•Series: MSU leads 14-9 all-time, including 6-3 since Nebraska joined the Big Ten.

MORE MSU HOOPS:

Michigan State continues tough stretch with early Big Ten opener vs. Nebraska

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Nebraska

MSU

•Nebraska update: This is a new-look Huskers team (other than point guard Glynn Watson Jr.), led by two transfers — former five-star recruit Isaac Copeland, a 6-foot-9 forward by way of Georgetown, and wing James Palmer Jr., who played at Miami early in his career. The Huskers' problem has been rebounding. They’re a Big Ten-worst minus-2 on the glass despite playing a schedule hardly filled with physical high majors. Nebraska’s wins are all against mid- and low-major clubs. Its two losses are to a couple NCAA tournament hopefuls, at St. Johns and on a neutral court against Central Florida.

•MSU update: The Spartans are rolling as they enter Big Ten play, coming off wins over top-10 opponents North Carolina and Notre Dame. Joshua Langford’s emergence goes beyond the last two games. He’s averaging 14.1 points per game, has scored 17 or more points in three of MSU’s seven games and in double figures in five of them. Moreover, he’s shooting 48 percent from 3-point range. As a team, the Spartans are shooting better than 50 percent on the season, while holding teams to 35 percent.

•About the matchup: If rebounding is the Huskers’ weakness, the matchup with Michigan State is trouble. The Spartans are pounding opponents on the glass, averaging 12 rebounds per game more than opponents through seven games, despite being out-rebounded by Duke by a dozen rebounds. The Huskers have good size and length and some offensive juice with Palmer, Copeland and Watson. But their results thus far — some close games against smaller conference foes and struggles against the only two quality opponents they’ve faced — speak of a team nowhere near ready to push the Spartans in East Lansing.

•Prediction: This might wind up being a decent Nebraska squad, perhaps one that can make enough noise and show enough promise to save Tim Miles’ job. Miles is a gem of a personality and a quality coach, who once brought a Huskers team into Breslin Center and left with a stunning victory. That spring-boarded Nebraska to an NCAA tournament bid. I don’t know about the bid this year, but the upset isn’t happening.

» Make it: MSU 81, Nebraska 65