NCAAB : Wisconsin Visits Michigan in Big Ten Battle

The Big Ten has seen better times on the hardcourt, but the top team in the conference will be in action Thursday night (7 PM ET, ESPN) when the Wisconsin Badgers visit the Michigan Wolverines. The No. 11-ranked Badgers lead the way at 21-4 SU and 11-11 ATS; the Wolverines are in the middle of the pack at 16-9 SU and 9-13 ATS.

Although Michigan has fallen to +20000 on the March Madness futures market, this program has some things going for them – especially on offense, where senior guard Derrick Walton (+9.6 BPM) is putting up 17.6 points and 4.4 assists per 40 minutes while hitting 44.2% of his 3-point attempts. Walton was 3-of-5 from behind the arc in last month’s 68-64 loss to Wisconsin (–11.5) at the Kohl Center.

The Badgers (+3300 to win March Madness) may be the best the Big Ten has to offer, but they’re 2-6 ATS in their last eight games, starting with that narrow victory over Michigan. They’re also coming off a 66-59 loss to the Northwestern Wildcats, once again coughing up the cash as 11.5-point home favourites. Shooting just 66.6% from the free-throw line hasn’t helped their cause.

NCAAB Odds: Wisconsin Seeks Redemption in Ann Arbor

After their first home loss in 19 games, the No. 11 Wisconsin Badgers hit the road Thursday  night to play the Michigan Wolverines in Big Ten action. ESPN has the coverage starting at 7 PM ET.

When these two teams met January 17 at the Kohl Center, it was Wisconsin (21-4 SU, 11-11 ATS) prevailing 68-64, but Michigan (16-9 SU, 9-13 ATS) bagged the cash as 11.5-point underdogs on the closing line. The Badgers were also 11.5-point favourites in Sunday’s 66-59 loss to the Northwestern Wildcats. Gimpy senior guard Bronson Koenig (+5.6 BPM) shot just 1-for-8 for Wisconsin.