Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Wisconsin Badgers Preview
Where: Kohl Center — Madison, WI
When: Sunday, January 12, 2017 4:30 PM ET
Line: Ohio State Buckeyes (+11) vs. Wisconsin Badgers (-11); total: 134.0 – view all NCAA Basketball lines
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Betting on the Ohio State Buckeyes (10-6, 0-3 Big Ten)
Things have been going downhill for the Buckeyes. They are losers in their last three (and six in their last 10) after opening the season with six straight wins.
Comparing their numbers from those two stretches, Thad Matta and his boys are minus eight in points, minus six in field goal percentage, minus nine in three-point percentage, minus three in offensive rebounds, and minus three in assists since ending the said winning streak.
Considering that they have a pretty balanced offense stat-wise, with all five starters averaging double digit points, and that their defense only allows 65.6 PPG on 38.8-percent shooting (18th lowest in the nation), it is really confusing as to where their sudden struggles are coming from. Chemistry shouldn’t be it too, since everyone in the rotation have been with each other for a couple of years.
As for matching up with Wisconsin, we’re not sure Ohio State are a confident bunch. This current core is 0-2 against their Big Ten rival, with both games being lopsided.
Ohio State has lost three straight road games (1-2 ATS).
Betting on the Wisconsin Badgers (13-3, 2-0 Big Ten)
The Badgers saw their nine-game winning streak come to an end Sunday against Purdue, losing 66-55. It was one of their lowest scoring outputs in over a year, but there shouldn’t be any worries for now. The defeat could be easily chalked up to a typical off night. No one couldn’t get anything going and the team collectively shot 39 percent from the field.
As they move forward, we can expect them to shoot better. Despite the awful shooting night, they are still hovering around the 48-percent mark, which is good for 39th overall in field goal percentage.
We should also see the Badgers scoring trio of Nigel Hayes (13.5 PPG), Bronson Koenig (14 PPG), and Ethan Happ (13.4 PPG) to be effective once again. Happ, the youngest among the three, is continuing to showcase some good potential, as he leads the team in rebounds (9.1 RPG), shooting percentage (65 percent), and steals (1.9 SPG).
Kenpom.com currently lists Wisconsin as the 16th best offense and 17th best defense in the nation.
Thursday night, they should be able to stay undefeated at Kohl Center this season (10-0 SU and 8-2 ATS).
Writer’s Prediction
The Badgers (-11) win, 83-75.
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