The Wisconsin Badgers (+7,500 to win the national title) are slowly trying to recover from recent pair of stumbles. And regardless of what happens in their matchup with the Indiana Hoosiers this coming Tuesday, the Badgers can’t let Penn State (+200,000) deal them a loss this weekend at home, as that would hurt their resume for March. As for Penn State, it’s trying to build momentum in preparation for the Big Ten tournament, which could be their only chance of getting into the Big Dance.
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Betting Preview for the Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Wisconsin Badgers College Basketball Game on March 2, 2019
Where: Kohl Center, Madison
When: Saturday, March 2, 2019, 1:00 PM ET
Line: Penn State Nittany Lions (odds) vs. Wisconsin Badgers (odds) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Penn State Nittany Lions (12-16 Overall / 5-2 Conference)
While they are among the cellar-dwellers in the Big Ten, the Nittany Lions are looking relatively well of late. They scored an upset win over then No. 6 Michigan Wolverines at home on Feb. 12. They lost to No. 12 Purdue Boilermakers (76-64) in the following contest but did beat the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Illinois Fighting Illinis in their next two assignments. Then, on Wednesday they beat the Maryland Terrapins 78-61 thanks in part to Lamar Stevens’ 24-points. In fact, a lot of their recent success can be attributed to junior forward Stevens’ exploits. He is leading the Nittany Lions with nearly 20-points per game this season, but has averaged nearly 24 points in the last six games. He had 26 points against Michigan’ stout defense. He also had 22 points, albeit in a 71-52 home loss to Wisconsin last month. Still, it showed that Stevens can rise on any given occasion and against any type of opponent. He needs support, though, especially from Penn State’s bench that only coughed up four points in the Wisconsin game.
Penn State is 6-5 against the spread (ATS) in road games this season.
Betting on the Wisconsin Badgers (19-9 Overall / 11-6 Conference)
The Badgers have come alive again. After suffering back-to-back losses to Michigan and the Michigan State Spartans, Wisconsin downed Illinois and the Northwestern Wildcats. In their 69-64 road win over the Wildcats last Saturday, Wisconsin’s vaunted defense showed up anew, as the Badgers held Northwestern to only 40.7 percent shooting from the field. Wisconsin’s defense is largely predicated on the team’s ability to slow the game down, thus limiting opponents’ scoring chances. In fact, Wisconsin is ranked 340th by KenPom in adjusted tempo. The Badgers’ defense is second in the Big Ten in adjusted defensive efficiency with 94.3 points allowed per 100 possessions. When it comes to their own possessions, Wisconsin are also incredibly efficient, with their effective field goal efficiency of 51.2 ranked third in the league. The Badgers are deadly from deep with a 38.6 percent accuracy from behind the arc. They went 8-for-16 from behind the arc in the win over Penn State.
The under is 2-0 in Wisconsin’s last two home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Wisconsin wins, 69-59.
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