Indiana has had an interesting season, knocking off some elite teams but losing too many overall, and hopes to pull the upset. Wisconsin has been the better team this season and is playing at home, so clearly it will be the favorite in this matchup.
This war on the floor will go down Sunday, February 5, 2017, at 1 p.m. ET at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. The game will be televised live on CBS.
We'll have NCAA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the college basketball Sunday schedule.
Odds at BookMaker.eu
Wisconsin is 19-3 straight up and 11-8 against the spread. The Badgers have played in nine home games this season and have covered in seven of them. Wisconsin has played well as the favorite this season, going 11-6 against the spread when giving points.
Indiana is 14-8 straight up and 9-11 against the spread. The Hoosiers have been good against the spread at home this season, but have struggled on the road. Indiana has played in five true road games this season and has failed to cover in any of them.
Indiana has been the underdog six times this season and has covered in two of them. The Hoosiers will aim to improve both on the road and as the underdog in this matchup.
Key Stat
59.8. That’s how many points per game this stout Wisconsin defense is allowing per game. The Badgers rank No. 4 in the country for points allowed.
In the team’s most recent win against Illinois on January 31st, Wisconsin held the Fighting Illini to 43 points. In fact, in the Badgers’ last three wins, they’ve held all opponents to 55 points or less.
This week, Wisconsin faces an Indiana offense that is averaging 71.5 points per game. The Hoosiers come into this matchup after scoring a season-high 110 points against Penn State on February 1st, but that was in triple-overtime, and it faces a much tougher challenge this week.
It will be interesting to see if Indiana can build upon its previous showing and effectively attack Wisconsin’s defense, or if the Badgers will execute their slow-down style and force the Hoosiers into a halfcourt game.
Player to Watch
Robert Johnson – The Indiana junior guard stepped up big against Penn State on Wednesday, finishing with 27 points and 11 rebounds in the triple-overtime win. The double-double was by far his best performance of the season and was also a career high in points scored.
With the team’s leading scorer James Blackmon out indefinitely with a leg industry, it’s vital Johnson continues to play at this level. It’s not clear if Blackmon, who has missed two games due to the current injury, will return this week against Wisconsin.
Johnson is averaging 14.5 points per game this season. Fellow junior Josh Newkirk also had 27 points in the win over Penn State. The situation is tough enough already for Indiana, and if Blackmon is out again, the odds will be even more stacked against them.
Free College Basketball ATS Picks
The Hoosiers are already without star sophomore OG Anunoby, out for the season with injury, so it’s no surprise they have struggled some in conference play. There is still some talent on this team, but not enough to beat a solid Wisconsin team on the road.
The Badgers play a slow-down game, so keep that in mind for both the over/under and the spread. Wisconsin may control this one, but Indiana can still stay within striking distance since there doesn’t figure to be a ton of possessions.
College Basketball Odds: Wisconsin 68, Indiana 62
BookMaker.eu offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker.eu!
