Michigan State coach Tom Izzo's March mystique has long been a myth, as he has just one national title and that came 21 years ago. His teams flame out regularly in the postseason, but I still think there is way too much support for a UCLA club that heads to this play-in game on a four-game losing streak. Michigan State never made what has become a traditional late-season surge, but still has won five of its past right and its bets player, Aaron Henry, has Final Four experience. Izzo was clearly embarrassed to be in this spot and now his team needs to prove his point.

The Bruins enter the play-in contest on a four-game losing streak but have the intangibles to give Michigan State trouble. Expect UCLA coach Mick Cronin to have his team fully engaged as questions are raised about whether or not the Spartans should be participating in the NCAA Tournament. Take the Bruins.

Michigan State is the worst team ATS in the NCAA Tournament at 9-18. However, the Spartans are 5-3 ATS in their last eight games. Michigan State has played the eighth most difficult schedule in the nation. The Spartans beat Illinois, Ohio State and Michigan, all Top 10 teams. UCLA is just the fourth best team from a mediocre Pac-12. The Bruins lost their best player, Chris Smith, after just eight games this season. UCLA's best win this year was over No. 43 Arizona. The Bruins' strength of schedule was 55th.

This is certainly the most "marquee" First Four matchup in NCAA Tournament history. Most were shocked that Sparty ended up in it with quality wins over two NCAA Tournament No. 1 seeds (Illinois and Michigan) and another against a No. 2 (Ohio State). UCLA closed the season on a four-game skid but should have won the latter two. I'm a Sparty fan and well aware that Tom Izzo is Mr. March, but this is one of his least-talented teams in years and MSU doesn't have any great wins outside of East Lansing.