Both the Purdue Boilermakers (+8,000 to win the national title) and the Wisconsin Badgers (+6,000 to win the national title) are playing catch-up in the Big Ten standings, though, it’s still early in conference play. A win by either team would give it a nice momentum, as it goes deeper into the heart of a tough Big Ten schedule. Will the Boilermakers upend Wisconsin in Madison? Or will the Badgers win their second game in a row?
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Betting Preview for the Purdue Boilermakers vs. Wisconsin Badgers College Basketball Game on January 11, 2019
Where: Kohl Center, Madison
When: Friday, January 11, 2019, 9:00 PM ET
Line: Purdue Boilermakers (odds) vs. Wisconsin Badgers (odds)– view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: FS1
Betting on the Purdue Boilermakers (9-5 Overall / 2-1 Conference)
As of this writing, the Boilermakers are on a three-game winning streak and will face next No. 6 Michigan State Spartans on the road Tuesday night. Then after that is another game away from home on Friday against the Badgers in Madison. Regardless of what happens in their trip to East Lansing, the Boilermakers are definitely going to want to win the Wisconsin game because it’s another opportunity to come away with a huge Quadrant 1 victory. The Boilermakers arguably have the best player in the conference spearheading their attack. That’s guard Carsen Edwards, who leads the Big Ten in scoring with 25.5 points per game. Speaking of offense, the Boilermakers are one of the most prolific and most efficient scoring teams in the nation, ranking sixth in KenPom in adjusted offensive efficiency and fourth in the league with 78.9 points per game. They have a fantastic three-point shooting, which can break down most defenses thrown at them. Purdue is averaging 10.7 three-pointers per contest, a stat to watch out for against Wisconsin’s tough defense.
The Boilermakers are 4-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last five road games against Wisconsin.
Betting on the Wisconsin Badgers (11-4 Overall / 3-1 Conference)
After losing back-to-back games to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on the road and to the Minnesota Golden Gophers at home, respectively, the Badgers bounced back by trouncing one of the worst teams in the conference last Sunday in an easy 71-52 road win over the Penn State Nittany Lions. As usual, forward Ethan Happ did the heavy lifting for the Badgers, as the senior forward pumped out 22 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out four assists to go with a block in 34 minutes of action. Happ is the heart of the Badgers, and he’s rarely let his team down. In fact, he is inside the top five in the league’s top five scorers, rebounders, and assist-makers, with a stat line of 19.3 PPG, 10.3 RPG, and 4.7 APG. Bigger than Happ is the team’s defense that ranks 14th in the nation with 62.2 points allowed per game. Opponents are shooting just 40.9 percent against them. Wisconsin likes to play an excruciatingly slow brand of basketball, which could affect the rhythm of the Boilermakers offensively. The Badgers are 339th in the nation in adjusted tempo, per KenPom.
The Badgers are 2-1 ATS in their last three home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Wisconsin wins, 73-71.
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