There's something potentially really special right now about the run the Wisconsin Badgers are on. They've really seemed to come together these last four games for a somewhat improbable run towards the NCAA Tournament, and they're going to go for a fifth straight win and cover at the expense of the Ohio State Buckeyes on Thursday night.
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HOW THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES CAN COVER THE SPREAD
The Buckeyes haven't been playing shabby ball themselves. They had every chance in the world to beat Maryland on Sunday but came up short, and that stopped a streak of three straight covers.
However, we know this team isn't living up to its potential. Marc Loving averaged 9.4 points per game last year, and with so much talent around him leaving, he was really expected to be good for at least 15 points per game this season. He's at 13.3 points per game as we speak, but he's also had eight straight games under that scoring average.
It's really a shame too, because Loving can stretch the floor and do things in the paint, and without him, the OSU offense is drab.
The good news is that the Bucks have figured out how to win games on defense as well. Foes are shooting just 39.0 percent against Ohio State, a stat which hasn't changed much in Big Ten play as you would've thought.
If they can combine both Loving getting some extra scoring with the defense keeping the Wisconsin guards in particular in check, the Buckeyes will have a shot at pulling an upset in the Kohl Center.
HOW THE WISCONSIN BADGERS CAN COVER THE SPREAD
The numbers haven't been pretty for the Badgers, but there's just this "it factor" about them right now. They're making all the shots they have to make and really not a single one more for the most part. They did a really nice job of keeping Illinois just far enough away on Sunday night to lock up a victory, though things were a little touch and go in the dying seconds.
It's hard to quantify how the Badgers need to get the job done, because it's consistently been someone else stepping up to hit a couple bigs shots here and there. Khalil Iverson, for example, averages 3.1 points per game. He hadn't scored a point in three straight games before coming in against Illinois and Sunday and scoring 10 with five boards in 30 minutes.
That's the type of production the Badgers are again going to need to find a way to cover this game.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
For as great as Wisconsin has been playing, there's a point that the oddsmakers catch up and start lining games too high. That's exactly what we think is going to happen on Thursday night.
The Badgers have been living dangerously and figuring out how to win games late. Ohio State has a knack for doing the exact same thing for 35 minutes without being able to pull it out down the stretch.
Though common logic from there would suggest the Badgers should cover this NCAAB game, we think there's just going to be a few too many points to try to cover. Wisconsin will likely win this game, but we still want the points on our side.
Wisconsin 64, Ohio State 60
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