NCAA Basketball Matchup: Ohio State vs Wisconsin
Ohio State appears to be the best team in the Big Ten this year, but they have stubbed their toe three times already this year on the road. Wisconsin started Big Ten Conference action slowly, but they have been on a roll of late.
NCAA Prediction On Buckeyes / Badgers
2:00 PM EST
College Basketball Gambling Odds from Bookmaker
NCAA Basketball Betting Favorite: Ohio State -2.5
Over/Under: 115.5
It’s never easy to win in the Kohl Center. Ohio State has lost in each of their last four trips to Madison.
Can the third ranked Buckeyes break through with a win on Saturday?
Aaron Craft doesn’t put up big numbers from the point guard spot, but he is the perfect point guard for this Buckeyes team. He finds the open man, scores when he needs to, and plays tremendous man-to-man defense on the ball. Jared Sullinger leads the team averaging 17 points and nine rebounds per contest.
William Buford and Deshaun Thomas average about 15 points per game. The Buckeyes are one of the better rebounding teams in the nation, and they take great care of the basketball. The Buckeyes don’t extend full court in their defensive pressure, but they make life miserable for the opponent in the half court. Ohio State gives up just 55.7 points per game despite playing at a quick pace. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Bo Ryan does a great job with this Wisconsin Badgers team. Every year people predict them to be down, but he always finds a way to help this team be an extremely tough squad to beat. Where does it start? Wisconsin controls the tempo of the game and plays hardnosed man-to-man defense.
The Badgers are second in the nation in field goal percentage defense.
They allow fewer points per game than any other team in the land at just 49.5 per contest. Jordan Taylor is the team’s top offensive threat. Taylor has struggled with his shot this year, but he’ll need to be on his game in this one. Josh Gasser is shooting 49% from beyond the arc this season.
The Buckeyes have struggled here in the past, but I think their talent wins them this game.
Look for Ohio State to prove a point here.
Prediction: Ohio State 62 Wisconsin 55
