Twenty two division I college basketball teams are still undefeated within their conference, not counting the Ivy League, which just recently began league play. Of those twenty two, seven are from major conferences. From that seven, two play in the Big Ten. They play tonight at 7:00 pm EST on ESPN: #21 Michigan (14-4, 6-0) @. #3 Michigan State (17-1, 7-0).

Both programs have made the news recently for less-than-ideal events, Michigan for the NBA prognostications of Nik Stauskas' father, Michigan State for losing their leading rebounder to a fractured hand after a film session frustrated him so greatly he slammed and broke his palm against a nearby table. The Spartans will also be without Adreian Payne, while the Wolverines have played most of the year without last year's tournament hero, sophomore Mitch McGrary.

Ideally, a fan of the sport unconnected to neither program would have wanted to see both teams at full strength. In fact, one's initial reaction to this matchup is angst derived from that terrible alternate reality, "What Could Have Been." Yet, maybe this game would have been just another top 10 vs. top 10 matchup a la Duke-Arizona, Villanova-Syracuse, Michigan State-Kentucky, and others if it didn't have its current underdog. If you recall, none of those games were particular great (though all had their moments).

Part of the reason Michigan is so fascinating right now is because despite their injuries and setbacks, they are the hottest team in college basketball right now (along with Kansas, also an intriguing four-loss team). Stauskas is a big part of that, so is Glenn Robinson III, and sophomore Caris Levert. Like Bill Simmons now famous "Ewing Rule," perhaps instead of 80 percent of Stauskas and 40-70 percent of McGrary (you never with that guy), we're privy to 85-90 percent of Stauskas, and, with Payne's injury, a greater portion of the Spartans' leading scorer Gary Harris (18.3 ppg) and third leading scorer Keith Appling (15 ppg).

For the magic that is undefeated, especially when one of the teams has four non-conference losses, I'm going to pick Michigan to cover the 4.5 spread (but Michigan State to win the game).

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Regular season: 4-6

Picking Schedule:

Butler @ Creighton: L (picked Butler, +10.5)

UConn @ Memphis: L (picked Memphis, -7.5)

Depaul @ Villanova: W (picked Villanova, -17.5)

Pittsburg @ Syracuse: L (picked Syracuse, -5.5)

Creighton @ Villanova: L (picked Villanova, -6.5)

Baylor @ Kansas: W (picked Baylor, + 10.5)

Indiana @ Michigan State: L (picked Michigan State, -12)

Iowa @ Michigan: L (picked Iowa, + 1.5)

Colorado @ Arizona: W (picked Colorado, + 14.5)

Illinois @ Ohio State: W (picked Illinois, + 11)