 |
vs.
|
 |
Indiana Hoosiers (10-8, 1-4 Big Ten) at #17 Wisconsin Badgers (13-4, 3-2 Big Ten)
Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 9:00 PM EST on ESPN
Spread: Wisconsin -13 ½
Over/Under: 127
The Indiana Hoosiers head to Kohl Center to take on the seventeenth-ranked Wisconsin Badgers on Thursday night in a Big Ten bout.
Indiana suffered a blowout loss when the two teams faced off last February by losing by a score of 83-55. The Hoosiers had a tough season all around, finishing 10-21 (4-12 in conference), while the Badgers finished 24-9 (13-5 in conference).
Indiana ended a six-game losing streak Saturday when they beat Michigan 80-61. Indiana had a six-day break and it seemed to recharge the team as they played one of their better games in awhile. The Hoosiers carried a 30-15 lead at the half and though the Wolverines mounted a comeback, the lead was too much to overcome. Verdell Jones led the charge with 24 points and four assists, while Christian Watford added 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Check out the latest College Basketball Odds here.
Indiana improved its record to 10-8 with the win, moving into 9th in the Big Ten. Though the losing streak was a tough one, this season has been a marked improvement over last, having won as many games as they did last season already. The Hoosiers have employed a back to basics approach, making every shot count. They have landed .49 percent of their field goals (9th) and moved the ball around for 14.7 assists per game (73rd). Scoring has been adequate with 75.2 ppg (64th), though rebounding is not up to par with 34.7 a game (203rd). Waterford has been the damage maker with 16.4 ppg and 5.8 rebounds, while Jones is a second threat with 12.8 ppg and 3.7 assists.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin beat Illinois 76-66 on Saturday. The game was a tight one, as the Badgers led 27-25 at the half and held the lead for the win. Jon Leuer continued to impress with 26 points, and Jordan Taylor added 22 while going 16 for 18 from the free throw line. Keaton Nankivil looks to be developing into another scoring threat for the Badgers, demonstrating impressive shooting range in the game by nailing multiple three 3-pointers in the second half.
The eighteenth-ranked Badgers improved their record to 13-4, 5th in the Big Ten with the win. It’s been an impressive season led by two potent scorers. Leuer leads the team with 19.2 ppg and 7.4 rebounds, while Taylor has 17.0 ppg and 4.6 assists. Despite those two, Wisconsin has only averaged 70 ppg (160th) and 33.8 rebounds (256th). As a team they have nailed .440 on field goals and 14.1 assists per game (107th).
The Hoosiers have been a surprise this year and seem to be clicking into place nicely. Wisconsin has arguably played a bit above their abilities. While this will be a hard fought matchup, there’s no room for Indiana to make mistakes. With two and possibly three threats with Nankivil coming on, Wisconsin has the potential to put up big points against weak defenses.
The odds makers have the Wisconsin Badgers as a -13.5 point favorite with an over/under of 127.
Matt’s Free Pick: Wisconsin
Need more help making your picks winners? Check out our top handicappers.
Click Here for more FREE EXPERT NCAA Basketball Picks!
Indiana Hoosiers Betting Trends:
- Indiana is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
- Indiana is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
- Indiana is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Wisconsin
- Indiana is 1-9 SU in its last 10 games when playing on the road against Wisconsin
Wisconsin Badgers Betting Trends:
- Wisconsin is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Wisconsin’s last 5 games
- Wisconsin is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
- Wisconsin is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Indiana
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.