JN: The Spartans are clicking at just the right time and are knocking off other hot Big Ten teams in their way. A rowdy Breslin Center should be enough to disrupt the Illinois backcourt if MSU bigs can just hang with the Illini frontcourt. Down goes another Big Ten contender and the Spartans sit alone atop the Big Ten standings.

MSU 72, Illinois 63

CV: Illinois may sit atop the Big Ten standings with the Spartans, but it has barely escaped from almost each conference victory. The Spartans have been able to outslug their opponents in the past three games and will have to battle down low again. Illinois’ Mike Tisdale presents a tough matchup for the Spartans inside. I’d expect to see junior center Tom Herzog match up with him because of his height. But the Spartans are too balanced of a team for the Illini to handle, earning MSU another solid conference victory.

MSU 60, Illinois 52

MB: This game takes me back to the days of Dee Brown burning the Spartans, back when this game was a rivalry. I don’t think that’s the case these days. The Fighting Illini have sort of tailed off in recent seasons, but in terms of the Big Ten race, this still is a big game. Illinois has raced out to a 4-0 league start but recently has been in close games at Indiana and at home against Penn State. I don’t see how the Spartans lose this game at Breslin.

MSU 77, Illinois 62

AD: The Spartans’ five-game winning streak won’t come to an end Saturday afternoon. This game will be close throughout, but I’m calling for another big game for junior guard Durrell Summers. Like previous games for the Spartans this season, this one won’t be pretty. But at the end of the day, the Spartans will chalk it up in the win column.

MSU 58, Illinois 51

MSU women vs. Penn State

1 p.m. Sunday, BigTenNetwork.com

JN: The Spartans are beyond unpredictable. Without a go-to scorer in crunch time and no deep threat, the Spartans are not a favorable pick in close games. The Spartans have had the Lady Lions’ number of late, but if it’s a close game in the second half, the Spartans’ poor execution could come back to haunt them once again. Let’s hope MSU doesn’t let it reach that point.

MSU 66, Penn State 55

CV: Sure, the Spartans have been an up-and-down team this season, but when they’ve been focused, they’ve been successful. Going on the road to face a surging Penn State team will grab MSU’s focus. Senior center Allyssa Dehaan will have one of her best games of the season, grabbing every rebound she can and scoring tons of second-chance points for the Spartans.

MSU 65, Penn State 55

MB: Bryce Jordan Center was a house of horrors for the Spartans — until head coach Suzy Merchant came to town. Under Merchant, the Spartans have won their only two games in State College, Pa., after losing their first 13. Although Penn State leads the all-time series 23-9, MSU has won six of the last eight meetings. The Lady Lions are playing well lately, including a 20-point win at Northwestern, but MSU will get it done here.

MSU 64, Penn State 57

AD: With a big cluster of teams in the middle of the conference standings, the Spartans need to earn quality wins on the road to pull themselves to the top of the table. It won’t be easy at Penn State, with the Lady Lions posting a 6-1 record at home this season. But junior forward Kalisha Keane will catch fire behind the arc and lead the Spartans to a victory.

MSU 68, Penn State 54

MSU hockey vs. Notre Dame

8:05 p.m. Friday (CBS College Sports)/7:05 p.m. Saturday (WVFN 730-AM)

JN: These two teams’ performances up until this point have flip-flopped in the eyes of many. The Spartans have overachieved while the Irish have been a disappointment. MSU’s offense has been a force lately but I expect the Irish to get up for this one, at least for the game in South Bend.

3-2 Notre Dame, 3-1 MSU

CV: MSU is trying to return to the upper echelon of the CCHA and this weekend provides an great test. Notre Dame has become a huge rival for the Spartans — from their upset of MSU in the NCAA Tournament two years ago to their spoiling of Jeff Lerg’s senior day last season. The Spartans will be battle-tested by the end of this weekend.

4-3 Notre Dame, 3-2 MSU

MB: It’s been a disappointing season in South Bend, Ind., for the Fighting Irish. Despite returning many talented players, Notre Dame enters this weekend with a sub-.500 record. Notre Dame has gotten the best of the Spartans this season, so this will be MSU’s chance for revenge. MSU is playing very well right now and should continue their unbeaten streak with a solid performance on the road Friday and an even better one Saturday at home.

2-2 tie, 3-1 MSU

AD: Keeping consistent lines has been a major strength of the Spartans this season. But with senior forward and co-captain Nick Sucharski out of the lineup for Friday’s game due to a disqualification penalty he received last Saturday, MSU head coach Rick Comley will have to jumble up the lines. However, I don’t think it will matter. The Spartans are hot right now and I’m predicting a lopsided sweep.

4-1 MSU, 5-2 MSU