A slow start for the Wisconsin Badgers, who are 4-3 and enter on a 0-4 ATS slide. The Badgers are not shooting the ball well and Temple’s defense ranks top-50 in adjusted defensive efficiency and field goal percentage. Add in two of the slowest-paced teams in the country and half-court offense, and the slow tempo and defensive pressure ensures a low-scoring game.
You can beat the college basketball odds at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
HOW THE TEMPLE OWLS WILL COVER THE SPREAD
Temple is 2-3 but all three of its losses came against top-25 teams. Fran Dunphy’s team is battle tested with four of those games being played away from home, but this is their first true road game.
This is an excellent ball-handling team with great discipline ranking No. 2 in the country in fewest turnovers and showing the ability to use full court pressure as needed with their depth.
Sturdy senior Jaylen Bond leads the team in rebounding and scores 10 points per game, while sophomore forward Obi Enechionyia has elevated his game in averaging 12 points per game. The experienced back court is led by leading scorer Quenton DeCosey, a big combo guard who scores inside or out with a 47 percent conversion rate from the arc and he’s also the Owls No. 2 rebounder.
Temple has been a terrible shooting team inside the arc thus far, but they have the players and match-ups in this contest to stay close to pull out a road win so long as not too many whistles go against them.
HOW THE WISCONSIN BADGERS WILL COVER THE SPREAD
The Badgers shot 23 percent in their most recent 65-48 loss at Oklahoma, and Wisconsin’s shooting struggles continue despite showing strong offensive rebounding and good overall efficiency on the offensive end. None of the Badgers top-3 scorers are hitting better than 44 percent from the field, and this is an average Big Ten team despite featuring one of the league’s top players in combo forward in Nigel Hayes.
The big man is scoring 15 points per game and leads the team in assists but has shot the ball at a poor 36 percent clip. Point guard Bronson Koenig leads the team in scoring at 16 points per game, but the Badgers are working the other pieces into the program and coach Bo Ryan’s Badgers aren’t defending like we’re accustomed to seeing.
Wisconsin is allowing 45 percent shooting beyond the arc to rank among the very worst in college basketball. They can win this by staying strong with their offensive rebounding and getting to the free throw line, but even on their strong home court in this price point, the Badgers aren’t worth the risk against a well-coached Temple team.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
The early season has been a struggle for the Badgers, who are 4-3 after reaching the national title game last season and finishing 36-4. Wisconsin plays at No. 14 Syracuse Wednesday so another loss and low-scoring output seems likely against the strong Syracuse zone.
Wisconsin will improve with Ryan guiding them, but it has clearly been overrated in the early season. Temple won 26 games last season but weren’t rewarded with a NCAA berth. They beat a better up-tempo Minnesota team 75-70 and the Owls are worthy in this role taking two possessions on the betting line with a low-scoring road win not the least bit surprising.
Temple 59, Wisconsin 56
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The matchup between the Temple Owls and Wisconsin Badgers will go down Saturday, December 5, 2015, at 12:30 p.m. ET at the Kohl Center. The matchup will be televised live on CBS.
