East Lansing, Mich.

5:05 p.m. Saturday

Bowling Green, Ohio

Cash Kruth, men’s basketball reporter: The MSU hockey team is playing so well as of late that they actually have me caring about hockey. Alright, not quite, but I’m still impressed with the Spartans’ attitude as the season nears a close. Here’s to the Spartans extending their four-game unbeaten streak.

MSU 3, Bowling Green 1; MSU 3, Bowling Green 0

Alex DiFilippo, hockey reporter: With the way this season has been going, the MSU hockey team is in no position to overlook any team — even last-place Bowling Green. Sure the Falcons have been struggling this season, but they bring the same gritty style of play the Spartans have shown in the past two weekends. After earning only two wins on the road this season, the Spartans are more determined than ever to pull themselves out of the bottom third of the CCHA to earn home ice in the playoffs. Hard work gets it done again this weekend for the Spartans, and senior goaltender Jeff Lerg stands on his head to stop 65 shots over the course of the two games.

MSU 3, Bowling Green 1; MSU 2, Bowling Green 1

Joe Terry, women’s basketball reporter: The hockey team has been on a roll of late and seems to have figured out how to win. After beating strong teams like Ohio State and Ferris State, the Spartans should have no problem with Bowling Green, the worst team in the CCHA. Still, I’m reluctant to pick with MSU because it seems like every time I do, they lose. They should be able to get the home win.

MSU 5, Bowling Green 1; MSU 1, Bowling Green 4

Scott Eckersley, Spartan Sportswrap host, Impact 89FM: The MSU hockey team comes into the game Friday night riding high after earning points in their last four games. Bowling Green on the other hand, comes into Munn Ice Arena riding a seven-game losing streak. I thought the Spartans had mailed it in, but they aren’t done yet. The second game of the home-and-home will be a little different for the icers. With Notre Dame looming next weekend, their heads will not be in the current game 100 percent. Despite a great effort in net by Jeff Lerg, MSU drops this one in OT.

MSU 4, Bowling Green 1; MSU 2, Bowling Green 3

Women’s Basketball vs. Wisconsin

2:30 p.m. Sunday

Madison, Wis.

CK: I somehow lucked out a couple weeks ago when I said the Spartans would beat Ohio State, no questions asked. Emphatically saying the Spartans will beat Wisconsin doesn’t have the same ring to it, mainly because of disparity of talent between the two teams. Playing on the road will be tough, and even though I like Wisconsin women’s basketball head coach Lisa Stone as a coach (although she sometimes scares me) I’m going with a MSU win behind 13 points and six rebounds from freshman forward Courtney Schiffauer.

MSU 62, Wisconsin 51

AD: The Spartans need to be careful not to overlook the Badgers. With Wisconsin losing six of their last seven games, they are a team hungry for a win to turn things around late in the season. But the Spartans are battling every game to stay atop of the Big Ten standings. This one will be closer than most people expect, but MSU will narrowly pull out the victory. Junior center Allyssa DeHaan puts down 15 points to lead the Spartans in this nail-biter.

MSU 58, Wisconsin 54

JT: MSU is playing the best ball it has all season, winning nine of the last 10 games, and is sitting in first place. Wisconsin is on the other side of the hill, having lost six of their last seven games, and are getting dangerously close to the Big Ten basement. The Badgers are facing some significant matchup issues with 5-foot-3 starting point guard, Rae Lin D’Alie, who will be tasked with guarding one of the 6-foot-1 MSU starters and the dismissal of forward Mariah Dunham, Wisconsin’s leading scorer in the first meeting. The Spartans should see some fight from the Badgers in the Kohl Center, but should be able to pound Wisconsin into submission.

MSU 65, Wisconsin 52

SE: Wisconsin is good at home, but they have also lost six out of their last seven games. Freshman forward Lykendra Johnson had a big game in the win at home earlier in the year, and she has been playing well lately. The front court of her, junior forward Aisha Jefferson and DeHaan are the best in the league, and they should dominate every game. These final four games are huge for MSU women’s head coach Suzy Merchant to prove she’s a big time coach, and that this team is for real.

MSU 61, Wisconsin 51

Men’s Basketball vs. Wisconsin

3:00 p.m. Sunday

East Lansing

CK: Originally, I thought the Spartans would beat Purdue on Tuesday and lose to the Badgers on Sunday, continuing their struggles at home. But now since that idea’s out of the picture, I’m firmly going with MSU. Wisconsin will be scrappy, no doubt, but between the sting of Tuesday’s loss and the hatred toward the Badgers, I don’t see how the Spartans can drop this. I have a feeling sophomore guard Kalin Lucas will play closer to his midseason form, scoring 18 points with six assists and one turnover.

MSU 70, Wisconsin 61

AD: After an embarrassing performance at Purdue, the Spartans are going to come out of the gates hot to prove they are a better team than what we all saw on Tuesday night. Wisconsin is playing well right now (winning four straight), but they don’t have the depth of the Spartans. I expect MSU to pull away with this one early. Kalin Lucas redeems going 2-for-11 on Tuesday and puts up 22 points to lead the Spartans in this one-sided game.

MSU 75, Wisconsin 59

JT: I’ll be honest, even if Wisconsin was the best team in the world I would pick them to lose. There’s just something about the way Wisconsin men’s basketball head coach Bo Ryan’s teams play that I don’t like. Actually it could just be Bo Ryan. MSU wins because I can’t stand Bo Ryan.

MSU 85, Wisconsin 65

SE: This is the wrong time of the season to face a streaky Badgers team. The Spartans will shake off their horrible shooting performance against one of the top defenses in Purdue and come out firing. I look for the Izzone’s hatred of Bo Ryan paired with sophomore guard Durrell Summers’ 3-point shooting to propel MSU to a much needed Big Ten victory. Also, you can’t lose with Magic in the house.

MSU 68, Wisconsin 59