Bring on the Buckeyes - should be one helluva slugfest, particularly with the great recent play of the Spartan bigs - Adreian Payne, Brendan Dawson, and Derrick Nix.  The depth in the post will be the difference on the defensive end late in the game.  F Deshaun Thomas and G Aaron Craft are the real deal for the Buckeyes, but the ES likes the matchup and MSU's depth, particularly home with a screaming Izzone at the Breslin.

Michigan State vs Ohio State.  Watch it on ESPN, 6 pm ET.  Live chat blog here on the ES, starting at 5:30 pm.

ES sez: MSU 66, Ohio State 63.

SOME HISTORY:
Love the history of MSU & Izzo vs Ohio State, provided by MSU Sports Info staff: Michigan State leads the all-time series with Ohio State, 65-54, including a 40-17 advantage in games played in East Lansing. The Spartans have won 25 of the last 36 games in the series. Tom Izzo is 20-11 in his career against the Buckeyes. And, through his first 17 seasons, Tom Izzo has won 412 games, ranking tied for second in college basketball history for most wins by a college coach in his first 17 years.

GO BIG GREEN!