Wisconsin at Michigan Odds, Free Pick & TV Info

Posted by Michael Hunt on Wednesday,February 15, 2017 8:42, EDT in

NCAA Basketball News, Betting Tips, Picks & Previews

Important game in the Big Ten on Thursday night as No. 11 Wisconsin visits Michigan. The Badgers are fighting for the conference’s regular-season title and perhaps as high as a No. 2 seed in the Big Dance. Michigan is simply trying to get into the NCAA Tournament. Let’s take a look at the NCAA basketball odds for the game.

Wisconsin at Michigan Odds, Free Pick & TV Info

When: Thursday, Feb. 16, 7 PM ET
Where: Crisler Center, Ann Arbor, Mich.
TV: ESPN
Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: Wisconsin / Michigan
Opening NCAAB Lines: Wisconsin favored by TBA

Why Bet On Wisconsin?

The Badgers (21-4) were upset at home by Northwestern on Sunday, 66-59. The Badgers didn’t let up despite falling behind by 10 with 1 minute left, closing to 60-55 with less than 15 seconds after Zak Showalter hit two foul shots. But Bryant McIntosh followed with two free throws with 42 seconds left, and Wisconsin ran out of time.

UW had been flirting with disaster during an eight-game winning streak that included overtime wins over Minnesota, Rutgers and Nebraska and close wins at home over Michigan and Indiana. The wake-up call finally arrived.

Not only did Northwestern make shots in key moments, it frustrated the Badgers on the other end by sending double teams at Ethan Happ to limit the sophomore forward’s effectiveness in the paint. Happ finished with nine points, but the sophomore forward didn’t make a field goal over the final 34 minutes, 14 seconds of the game. His lack of production around the rim was a big reason UW managed a season- low 12 points in the paint, 21.5 under its season average.

UW could have made Northwestern pay for its decision to direct so much attention toward Happ, but the Badgers missed too many open shots. Bronson Koenig had his share of good looks but finished 1 of 8 overall and 0 of 5 from 3-point range. The senior point guard is now 14 of 55 overall (25.5 percent) and 7 of 31 (22.6 percent) from beyond the arc over the past five games.

UW freshman guard D’Mitrik Trice scored in double-figures for the first time in a Big Ten game with 11 points, all coming in the second half. He also pulled down a season-high six rebounds and drew a charge during his 23 minutes of playing time off the bench. Trice had accounted for just five points (2-of- 11 FGs) in the previous four games combined.

At 21-4, Wisconsin has posted the 3rd-best 25-game start in school history. Wisconsin has won at least 21 of its first 25 games for the 4th time in the last 11 seasons. Happ is doing it all for UW during Big Ten play, leading the team in points (15.7 ppg), rebounds (8.8 rpg), assists (2.8 apg), blocks (1.5 bpg) and steals (2.5 spg). Happ is the only player in the nation leading his team in all 5 categories during conference play.

The Badgers simply don’t beat themselves. UW ranks 4th in the NCAA in scoring defense (60.4 ppg), 9th in fewest fouls per game and 31st in fewest turnovers per game.

Why Bet On Michigan?

The Wolverines (16-9) have won four of the last six games, including convincing victories over rival Michigan State in Ann Arbor and Indiana in Bloomington — Sunday it was 75-63 at Indiana. It marked the first time the Wolverines defeated the Hoosiers twice in the same Big Ten season since 1994-95 and the first win at Assembly Hall since Jan. 7, 2009 (72-66, OT).

For the fifth straight game, Derrick Walton Jr. led U-M in scoring, recording his fifth consecutive 20-plus point performance with 25 points. He also added four assists and five rebounds, pulling him with two rebounds of starting his own club with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 400 assists. He currently has 1,249 points, 498 rebounds and 404 assists. Moritz Wagner recorded his first career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while D. J. Wilson also scored in double figures with 13 points.

Over the last five games, has been averaging 23 points. In Big Ten games, Walton is averaging 17.2 points, one of four players in double-figures. Joining him are D.J. Wilson (12.8), Wagner (12.3) and Zak Irvin (11.0).

Michigan continues to lead the nation in fewest turnovers per game, committing just eight while forcing Indiana to commit 15. U-M outscored the Hoosiers, 20-6, in points off turnovers. U-M’s opponents have had more than 10 turnovers in 21 of 25 games this season.

The last time the Badgers played at the Crisler Center was 2015 and they escaped with a 69-64 overtime victory thanks in large part to Frank Kaminsky who had 22 points and 9 rebounds.

Wisconsin did beat visiting Michigan 68-64 on Jan. 17. UW’s Koenig scored 16 points, 10 in a key run that turned the game around. Michigan ended up committing 21 fouls with D.J. Wilson, Wagner and Walton all fouling out.