Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Wisconsin Badgers Predictions, Picks, Odds and NCAA Basketball Betting Preview – March 5, 2017

Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Wisconsin Badgers Preview

Where: Kohl Center, Madison

When: Sunday, March 4, 6:00 PM ET

Line: Minnesota Golden Gophers (+8) vs. Wisconsin Badgers (-8); total: 134.0 – view all NCAAB lines

TV Broadcast: Big Ten Network

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Betting on the Minnesota Golden Gophers (23-7, 11-6 Big Ten)

Point Spread: +8

Minnesota hasn’t beaten the Badgers since 2009. Tonight, the Gophers will have another crack at it as they go up against Wisconsin on the road.

The Gophers came agonizingly close to ending their losing streak to Wisconsin earlier this season, losing to Wisconsin 78-76 in overtime at home on Jan. 21. But with all the momentum and swagger that the Gophers have picked up along the way during their current eight-game win streak, they should be able to pose lots of problems for Wisconsin in the rematch. They are fresh off an 88-73 win against Nebraska, shooting 55.9 percent from the field.

Minnesota has been lights out on offense heading into the last game of the regular season, averaging 86.0 PPG on 50% shooting over the Gophers’ last three games. Jordan Murphy scored just four points in the first meeting with Wisconsin but has transformed into a different player in the last seven games, wherein he has put up 17.6 points and plucked down 13.6 RPG.

The Golden Gophers are 3-0 ATS in their last three road games.

Betting on the Wisconsin Badgers (22-8, 11-6 Big Ten)

Point Spread: -8

There’s a lot on the line for Wisconsin—at least in the Big Ten scope— in its game tonight against the visiting Gophers. For one, a win over Minnesota in the regular-season finale would give the Badgers the No. 2 seed and a double bye in the conference tournament.

A win would also be a big morale-boost for the Badgers, who have lost all of their last three games, including a 59-57 sorry loss at the hands of Iowa last Thursday. The Badgers only have a win in six games heading to tonight’s meeting with Minnesota.

Ethan Happ and Nigel Hayes are expected to lead the Badgers, who got 49 points from the tandem in the win over the Gophers in January. Happ is averaging 14.1 PPG on the season, while Hayes is producing 13.5 PPG.

It’s not that easy for opponents to play in Madison and pull off a victory. The Badgers are 8-2 SU in their last 10 at home, going 5-5 ATS in those games. They’re also 9-1 SU in the last 10 times they’ve hosted Minnesota in Madison dating back to 2006.

Writer’s Prediction

Minnesota (+8) wins, 80-73

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