Wisconsin Badgers vs. Michigan Wolverines NCAAB Preview
Where: Crisler Center — Ann Arbor, Michigan
When: Tuesday, February 16, 2017 – 7:00 PM ET
Line: Wisconsin Badgers (+2.5) vs. Michigan Wolverines (-2.5); total: 126.0 – view all NCAA Basketball lines
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Betting on the Wisconsin Badgers (21-4, 10-2 Big Ten)
After back-to-back escape wins wherein they displayed a rather flat offense, the Badgers’ luck finally ran out this past Sunday. The visiting Northwestern Wildcats beat them, 66-59, and had them shooting below 40 percent for the third straight contest. The defeat halted Wisconsin’s eight-game winning streak.
As they try to piece together another string of victories, the team’s big three of Ethan Happ, Nigel Hayes, and Bronson Koenig, who all average 13 or more points per game, should be able to take the lead again. In the last two times Wisconsin lost this season, the trio powered the group to answer with big streaks.
Happ has been Mr. Do-it-all for Coach Greg Gard. The sophomore is pacing the team in scoring (14.2 ppg) and could also produce good numbers in other areas – 9.2 RPG, 2.8 APG, 2.0 SPG, 1.1 BPG (60-percent shooting).
Although the offense is just decent when compared to the top-ranked schools, the Badgers’ elite defense is making it look like a dozen times better – fourth in points allowed (60.4 PPG) and eighth in defensive efficiency.
Wisconsin has already beaten Michigan this season (68-64, last January 17th), and they are 7-3 on the road on the year (4-6 ATS).
Betting on the Michigan Wolverines (16-9, 6-6 Big Ten)
Michigan has been average at best against the conference, as seen in their record above. The slightly good news, however, is that they are entering the game as winners of two straight, with the most recent being an easy 75-63 victory over the Indiana Hoosiers.
Derrick Walton Jr. playing like the savvy veteran that he is as of late (23.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists on 51.2-percent shooting in his last four) is very timely since his scoring partner, Zak Irvin, is unbelievably awful in the same stretch – 3.3 PPG on 12.9-percent shooting (4-for-31). You read that right, but go ahead, read those ugly stats again.
Moving forward, Walton (14.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 3.7 APG) will have to continue playing as such, while Irvin (12.6 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.2 APG) obviously has to wake up from his misery. The seniors are the 1-2 punch of the Wolverines, and their identical production is basically what the best and worst thing the Wolverines have this season.
The team is at the middle-of-the-pack in scoring (74.6 PPG), but Kenpom.com surprisingly ranks them as the eighth-best offense in the nation.
The Wolverines are 10-2 in their last 12 games at home (6-6 ATS).
Writer’s Prediction
The Badgers (+2.5) take it, 83-78.
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