Perhaps one of the most entertaining rivalries in sports history takes place again today. The Michigan Wolverines, fresh off a win over Iowa, take on No.15 Wisconsin. The Wolverines are 14-10 and desperately need to get a winning streak going. Not only will this game help with their positioning in the Big Ten, but it brings bragging rights. Wisconsin won’t go easy on them though.
The Wisconsin Badgers are 20-5 this season and are third in the Big Ten. Even with their impressive record, they aren’t huge favorites over Michigan in this game. In fact, they’re only three-point favorites here. They’re coming off of a 74-69 win over Indiana, however, the game before was a loss to Rutgers. Can the Badgers keep the Wolverines from pulling off an upset, Take a look at our single game parlay
Game Preview: Michigan Wolverines at Wisconsin Badgers
On the surface, the record of the Wolverines might lead you away from them. However, when taking a deeper look at the team, you’ll see a lot of potential. They average 72.63 points per game, which is actually more than Wisconsin. They also shoot better from beyond the arc, at 34.30%. In this game against Wisconsin, the offensive advantage goes to the Wolverines.
Defensively is where the Wisconsin Badgers shine the most. On average, Wisconsin only allows 66.48 points per game, ranking 99th in college basketball. However, this great defense wasn’t much help in their 73-65 loss to Rutgers. Just because the Badgers have a better record, it doesn’t mean they’re unbeatable. We think they’re actually in for an upset in today’s game.
Against the Spread: Michigan Wolverines +3
Our first pick is taking the Michigan Wolverines +3 in this game. Over the last ten games between these two, Michigan is 6-4. On the road, the Wolverines have a 5-6 record against the spread. It might not sound like a large advantage, but remember the Badgers are 5-8 ATS at home. Even playing on their home court doesn’t give the Badgers an advantage in this one.
In their last nine games against Wisconsin, the Wolverines are 7-2 against the spread. This season hasn’t been kind to the Wolverines, but they know how to beat the Badgers. This is a long, storied rivalry, and we think the Wolverines have what it takes to win. Now, let’s take a look at our next bet for this game.
The Total: OVER 137.5
Sure, the Wisconsin Badgers have an incredible defense. However, we’ve seen the totals go over in eleven of their last fifteen games. The Wolverines can spread the Badgers defense and create more opportune scoring lanes. We’ve also seen, in recent weeks, an uptick in the Wolverines’ ability to score. The only way for the Badgers to keep up is by running up the score.
Over their last seventeen games, the Wolverines have gone over the total in twelve of them. In their last five games on the road, the total has gone over four times. Each of these teams has gone over the total more often in recent weeks. Taking the over in this game makes more sense than the under.
Player Points: Moussa Diabate OVER 9.5 (-138)
A player that is emerging as a star on the Michigan Wolverines is Moussa Diabate. In their most recent game, Diabate scored a career-high 28 points. The leading scorer for the Wolverines is Hunter Dickinson, who averages 17.9 points per game.
With so much attention given to Dickinson, Diabate will get more opportunities to score. He’s a strong talent, with good shooting ability, and is an even better finisher. He’s -138 to go over 9.5 points, pairing this with our two picks above ensures a strong payout.