— Wednesday, December 08th Indiana Hoosiers @ Wisconsin Badgers
After a 2-1 start to the season, the No. 22 Wisconsin Badgers (7-1, 0-0) have won five in a row as they prepare to open their Big Ten slate against the Indiana Hoosiers (7-1, 1-0). The Hoosiers’ only loss of the season came in double OT at Syracuse in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge last week. Top off at the Kohl Center in Madison is set for 7:00 p.m. ET Wednesday on Big Ten Network.
Going head-to-head in the Big Ten, these teams have met 124 times, with Indiana leading 82-42. However, it has been all Badgers in recent memory with a 22-3 mark over the last 25 games and a current run of 8-1. Wisconsin won the line matchup last year 80-73 at home, and they haven’t lost to the Hoosiers in Madison since January 25, 1998, 19 games ago.
Jackson-Davis Leads Hoosiers
Indiana is 5-3 ATS so far this season, and the under is 6-2 in their games. Indiana started their Big Ten campaign on Saturday with a 13-point home win over Nebraska as they bounced back from the 112-110 loss to Syracuse. They are in the top 50 in the nation in scoring at 80.7 ppg, and the defense ranks seventh in field goal percentage.
All-American candidate Trayce Jackson-Davis is among the best in the nation inside as he shoots 64.4 percent from the field. Jackson-Davis had 14 points against Nebraska on Saturday and leads the Hoosiers at 21 ppg to go with 8.6 RPG.
Xavier Johnson and Race Thompson are next for the Hoosiers, both averaging 10 points per game. Thompson leads Indiana at 8.9 rpg, and Johnson leads the way with 4.0 apg. Tamar Bates had a big day off the bench against Nebraska with 13 points.
Indiana shoots 37.4 percent from deep, led by Patrick Stewart, with 21 makes at 47.7 percent. They are not a very good free-throw shooting team, though at 69 percent, ranking 203rd in the nation.
Badgers Coming Together
This was supposed to be a down year by Wisconsin standards, but nobody told the Badgers. They are ranked No. 22 in the latest AP poll and already have wins over Houston, Texas A&M, St. Mary’s, Georgia Tech, and Marquette. They are 6-2 ATS and their only loss this season was a 5-point setback against Providence in the first round of the Maui Invitational.
The Badgers defense ranks 30th in the nation, allowing 59.1 ppg. While the offense hasn’t been great, it has done enough to pull out the wins when needed. They rank in the bottom 30 in the country in shooting percentage and 3-point percentage but have topped 70 points in the last two games.
Sophomore Johnny Davis leads the Badgers at 20.1 ppg, and he’s shooting 40.7 percent from deep. Davis also leads Wisconsin in rebounding (5.6 rpg), assists (2.4 apg), and steals (1.6 spg). He posted 25 points against rival Marquette on Saturday as the Badgers scored 55 points in the second half.
Super senior Brad Davison is next at 15.9 ppg, and he’s made 20 3-pointers on the season. Center Steven Crowl will have his hands full with Jackson-Davis on the defensive end Wednesday night. The 7-footer averages 9.4 ppg and 5.6 rpg on the season but shoots just 42 percent from the field.
Wisconsin is a great free-throw shooting team so far this campaign. They rank 15th in the country at 79.5 percent, and all five starters are over 74 percent on the season. Davison shoots 83.8 percent while Davis is at 82.1 percent, and the duo have shot a combined 76 on the season, more than the rest of the team combined.
Betting Analysis
- Indiana Hoosiers +4.5 (-110). Money line +160
- Wisconsin Badgers -4.5 (-110) Money line -190
- Total Points: 132 Over -105. Under -115
This will be a game of tempo and control as Indiana ranks 26th in the nation with 75.1 possessions per game while Wisconsin slows it down and ranks 314th nationally in tempo.
If Wisconsin controls the tempo, it will be tough for either team to crack 70. Indiana will have to find a way to shut down the Wisconsin guards; easier said than done so far this season.
Betting Pick: Badgers -4.5 (-110)
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