The James Madison Dukes and the fourth-ranked Michigan State Spartans start their season off in this competitive matchup. The Spartans are heavily favored to land their first win on the year with a point spread of -16.5 (-110).

The Dukes capped off their previous season with a 22-11 record under coach Mark Byngton. They finished fourth in the Sun Belt Conference and had a 12-6 record in conference battles.

Their season ended with a 75-66 defeat to the South Alabama Jaguars. Based on previous experience, this team is poised to have a strong year.

They ranked 14^th in the nation for points per game last year, which was at 80.5. They were also 54^th in the nation for their efficiency with the ball, with a rating of 109.8. This offensive performance was crucial in their success.

On defense they ranked 119^th in the country in allowing 68.1 points per game. They had a defensive efficiency at 92.8, making them the 14^th best defensive team according to their stats.

The Spartans return for another season under coach Tom Izzo. Last year, they were defeated by the Kansas State Wildcats 98-93 in overtime in the Sweet 16 of the college basketball playoffs.

They had a 21-13 record and were fourth in the Big Ten conference. In league play, they went 11-8, so they will need to improve their performances against their rivals in their conference.

Their offense scored 70.9 points a game and ranked 193^rd in the nation. Their efficiency on offense ranked 115^th in the nation at 106.8. They were able to get a decent amount of points in a tough conference.

On defense they struggled a bit, as they allowed 67.9 points a game. This ranked 114^th in the nation and will need to improve. They also had a defensive efficiency of 102.3, ranking 189^th in the nation.

MyBookie offers the betting odds in this hane, with the Michigan State Spartans as heavy favorites. Judging by market analysis, it shows that the Spartans have an 83.0 percent chance of finding success.

This is a slightly different looking Spartans team that played a year ago. With such a high rank to start the season, there is a lot to be expected of them. For now, it seems like their point spread is an appealing prospect if they are the ones controlling the pace of the game.