Michigan State projected to escape Harvard by nine

Versus projects Michigan State to win 72-63 at Harvard, with the Spartans given a 71 percent chance despite playing on the road. A nine-point margin is modest for a team ranked 23 spots ahead of its opponent nationally, No. 27 to No. 50, and it reflects how sharp Harvard has looked even in a non-conference game.

Michigan State comes in unbeaten at 3-0 and carrying a three-game winning streak, graded A overall with an A+ offense that ranks 22nd nationally. The Spartans have posted a winning record in every season Versus has on record, and their power rating sits in the top 7 percent of all rated teams this season, even after sliding seven places since the preseason. Their defense, ranked 30th, will be tested by a Harvard offense that has found its footing.

Harvard enters at 3-1 and has also won three straight, outscoring its last four opponents by an average of 11 points along the way. The Crimson have climbed 22 places since the preseason to reach No. 50, a jump built on an A defense and an A- offense. In their most recent meeting, in March 2025, Michigan State won 64-50 at a neutral site, and Sunday's game will show how much of that gap has closed.