Wisconsin vs. Michigan Pick
Can No. 11 Wisconsin slow down the momentum of Michigan when the two meet in Ann Arbor tonight at 7PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, Michigan is the slight favorite at home, as the Wolverines are getting odds of -1 point against the Badgers. The over/under total for the game is listed at 128.5 points. Wisconsin has won five straight in this series, including a 68-64 win at home on Jan. 17. Michigan has covered the spread in three of the last four meetings with Wisconsin.
Wisconsin is coming off a surprising 66-59 loss at home to Northwestern to fall to 21-4 on the season and 10-2 in the Big Ten. The Badgers have been struggling to cover as of late too, as they have failed in three straight and now sit at 11-11 against the spread. Wisconsin is averaging 73.8 points per game on offense while allowing just 60.4 on defense. When on the road, the Badgers are giving up 69.3 points per contest. Ethan Happ is leading the team with 14.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game while Bronson Koenig is adding 13.4 points per contest. Koenig is dealing with a calf injury, but is expected to play tonight.
Michigan has won back-to-back games, including its first true road victory of the season at Indiana, to improve to 16-9 on the season and 6-6 in the Big Ten. The Wolverines are just 9-13 against the spread this season after covering in five of their last seven games. Michigan averages 74.6 points per game on offense while allowing just 65.5 on defense. At home, the defense is even tougher, allowing just 61.7 points per contest. Derrick Walton Jr. is leading the team with 14.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game while Zak Irvin is adding 12.6 points and 4.4 boards per contest.
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Wisconsin is coming off a bad loss at home to a weakened Northwestern team. Now Koenig is bothered by an injury and the Badgers are set to face a guard-heavy team in Michigan. The Wolverines have been rolling over the last week and Walton is playing at a high level right now. It appears Michigan has finally pieced things together and I think it picks up another big win tonight at home.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL DAILY PREDICTION: MICHIGAN -1