Bracketology: No. 1 seed Michigan State to open at LCA in NCAAs

Tom Izzo's Michigan State Spartans will be playing as the No. 1 seed against No. 16 Idaho at Little Caesars Arena in the NCAA Tournament's Midwest Region, according to ESPN's first Bracketology released for the 2017-18 season.

ESPN's full Bracketology is here.

LCA will host first- and second-round games March 16 and 18. The University of Detroit Mercy is the site host.

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The No. 2-ranked Spartans open the regular season against North Florida on Friday at the Breslin Center.

ESPN's Bracketologist Joe Lunardi has 8-seed Michigan facing 9-seed Rhode Island at Chatlotte in the South Region in the first round while he forecasts 12-seed Oakland taking on 5-seed Northwestern in Wichita, Kan., in the Midwest Region.

Michigan opens its regular season Saturday against North Florida at Crisler Center. Oakland kicks off its season Friday, hosting Fort Wayne at the O'rena.