The 2020-21 college basketball season brings more conference action Monday night including the marquee matchup at Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Therefore, I bring you the best betting pick for the Big Ten showdown between the Maryland Terrapins and Wisconsin Badgers along with the latest odds update on BetMGM Sportsbook.
Last season, the Badgers barely outlasted the Terrapins 56-54, while the previous five games between these two schools were decided by eight or fewer points, so Monday’s clash promises plenty of excitement to the basketball fans.
The Terrapins have dropped three of their last four games
The Maryland Terrapins are coming off a 73-70 defeat at the Purdue Boilermakers this past Friday, covering a 3-point spread after three straight ATS losses. Also, it was their third defeat in the last four games overall, so the Terrapins dropped to 5-3 on the season and 0-2 in the conference play.
Junior guard Eric Ayala leads the way for Maryland this season, spending 30.5 minutes on the floor per game and averaging 14.4 points on 49.3% shooting from the field. Sophomore forward Donta Scott tallies 13.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, while another junior guard Aaron Wiggins is adding 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists a night.
The Terrapins are scoring 111.7 points per 100 possessions (16th in the country), but they’re surrendering 95.9 in a return (84th). Maryland enters Monday’s game as No. 48 in the KenPom rankings.
The Badgers tortured Michigan State for their fifth straight win
The Wisconsin Badgers are riding a five-game win streak following an impressive 85-76 road victory over the Michigan State Spartans. They upset the odds as 2.5-point dogs thanks to some excellent offensive execution, as Wisconsin committed only seven turnovers while making 51.9% of its field goals and 42.1% of its 3-pointers.
D’Mitrik Trice had a big game against the Spartans, finishing with 29 points on 7-for-14 from the field goal and 11-for-15 from the charity stripe. He’s been averaging 13.0 points and 3.2 assists on the season, while Micah Potter’s added 13.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
The Badgers are 8-1 overall and 2-0 in the conference play. They are scoring 113.7 points per 100 possessions (9th in the nation) while surrendering 87.3 in a return (4th), enough for No. 9 in the AP Top 25 Poll and No. 4 in the latest KenPom rankings.
[metabet_core_odds_compare query=”ncaab/wisconsin” size=”300×250″ site_id=”atsio” css=”float:right; margin-left:10px”]Trends:
Maryland:
- 2-5 ATS in the last seven games against Wisconsin
- 5-9 ATS in the last 14 games overall
Wisconsin:
- 4-1 ATS in the last five games overall
- 4-1 ATS in the previous five home games
The Winner Prediction
I really like this Wisconsin team. The Badgers lean on five seniors and possess great depth, so I’m looking for them to cover a 7.5-point spread. Buying a few points should be a smart move, as this could easily be a low-scoring clash played at a very slow pace.
The Terrapins have been solid offensively thus far, but their defense is a big issue. On the other side, the Badgers are one of the best defensive teams in the country, but they play terrific offense, too.
Pick: Take Wisconsin -7.5 at -160
The Total:
The under is 8-0-1 in the last nine encounters between Maryland and Wisconsin, so I won’t overthink this one. The Badgers’ defense is brutal, while both teams love to play at a very slow pace, so give me the under on the totals.
Interestingly, the over has hit in nine of the Badgers’ last 12 home games. However, these two teams know each other well, so I expect to see some good D on both sides and a proper low-scoring affair.
Pick: Go under 136.5 points at -110