The Wisconsin Badgers have knocked off Big Ten opponent the Michigan Wolverines once this year. If they can do so again, the top of the conference standings are going to be very tight heading down the stretch. Michigan currently sits ahead of the pack but Wisconsin and and several others are right on its tail.
The Wolverines are going to be favored to get revenge on Wisconsin next time out since this game will be played in Ann Arbor. Michigan recently lost to Iowa but has put together an impressive season and should enter March Madness with a high seed provided it plays well down the stretch.
The Badgers are nationally ranked like the Wolverines and an upset win would do a lot in the conference race and for NCAA tournament seeding. There are plenty of implications coming from this one and it could be an intense matchup in NCAA men’s basketball wagering.
This NCAA basketball game between the Wisconsin Badgers and Michigan Wolverines will be held at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 9th, 2019. The game will be nationally televised on FOX.
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Odds Analysis
Wisconsin has a record of 17-6 on the season and is near the top of the Big Ten with a 9-3 mark. There are multiple talented teams in the conference this year that are nationally ranked so it could be a wild finish. A loss here would make it an uphill climb for the Badgers to win the conference but a win would have them right in the mix.
Michigan is 21-2 overall and has won 10 of its 12 Big Ten matchups. The Wolverines are joined by Purdue as the only two-loss teams in the conference and have one more win than the Boilermakers to sit in first place. Michigan has not lost a home game this season and has played some good teams there.
Previous Matchup
Wisconsin came away with a 64-54 victory when these two teams met in Madison in mid-January. The Wolverines actually led by a bucket at the half but the Badgers were the much stronger team after intermission and cruised to the win.
Ethan Happ dominated for Wisconsin, registering 26 points and 10 rebounds. The Badgers shot 44.8 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from three-point range while Michigan was not as efficient. This was Michigan’s first loss of the season.
Key Stat
57.3. That’s the number of points Michigan is allowing per game this year, which is the second-best mark in college basketball. The Wolverines have put the clamps down on a lot of teams this year but Wisconsin was able to score pretty efficiently in the halfcourt in the first meeting.
Michigan has generally been able to lock down top opponents but Happ found a rhythm. It will be interesting to see what kind of adjustments the Wolverines make in this one. They are not a dominant offensive team but the defense has been so strong all year that it hasn’t mattered.
Free NCAA Basketball ATS Picks
The Badgers played really well the first time these teams met but look for Michigan to exact its revenge in this one. The scoring total is already going to be low but look for this one to be a slugfest with the “under” very much in play.
Michigan should eventually be able to pull away for an easy win to keep control of the Big Ten in NCAA men’s basketball wagering.
NCAA Basketball Pick: Michigan Wolverines 64, Wisconsin Badgers 57
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