The first Big Ten semifinal for Saturday morning is set, featuring the No.19 Wisconsin Badgers vs the No.6 Michigan State Spartans. The Spartans have played the Badgers more than any other NCAA D1 team since 1950, with Michigan State having an all time edge in the record books, winning 75 games versus Wisconsin’s 57 games, with an average point differential of 3.1. NCAA Futures give the Spartans +1,200 odds to win the 2019 Men’s NCAA Basketball National Championship, while the Badgers are priced at +7,000 to do the same.
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Betting Preview for the Wisconsin Badgers vs Michigan State Spartans Big Ten Semifinal College Basketball Game on March 16, 2019
Where: United Center, Chicago, IL
When: Saturday, March 16, 2019, 1 PM ET
Line: Wisconsin Badgers (odds) vs. Michigan State Spartans (odds) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Wisconsin Badgers (23-9 Overall / 14-6 Conference)
Wisconsin progressed through to the Big Ten semis after taking down Nebraska 66-62, with four players scoring in double digits, including 14 points each from forward Nathan Reuvers and guard Khaljl Iverson. Somehow UW leading scorer Ethan Happ managed only four points.
The Badgers last faced the Spartans on February 12, losing 67-59. Happ was much better in that game, putting in 20 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, but the rest of the team let the star forward down offensively and defensively, which won’t fly against Michigan State this Saturday.
In the Big Ten this season, Wisconsin is 16-15-1 against the spread (ATS) and after a win they are 13-8-1 ATS in the conference, covering 61.9% of the time.
Betting on the Michigan State Spartans (26-6 Overall / 16-4 Conference)
Michigan State’s win over Ohio State on Friday was somewhat uneventful. Cassius Winston was their high scorer, with just 18 points. The next highest scorer came off the bench from Forest Loyer, who added 14 points to compensate for a lackluster performance from the starting squad.
MSU looked a bit sharper in their game against the Wisconsin in February. On the way to victory, the Spartans shot similar (43.9%) to their opponent from the field, but dominated from the 3 point line with 40.9% shooting versus the Badgers 30% beyond the arc shooting. Head coach Tom Izzo’s team also cleaned up on the boards, out-rebounding Wisconsin 40-28, although they turned the ball over 3 more times than the Badgers.
Michigan State leads the Big Ten with a 22-10 ATS record this season, covering 68.8% of the time. After a win, the Spartans are second only to Nebraska with an 18-7 ATS record, covering an impressive 72% of the time. All signs point to them covering in this game.
Writer’s Prediction
The Spartans win, 76-69.
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