The third-ranked Michigan Wolverines (13-1 overall, 8-1 Big Ten) visit the No. 21 Wisconsin Badgers (15-6, 9-5) Sunday in a Top 25 showdown. Tip-off for the conference battle is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. Below, we analyze the Michigan-Wisconsin college basketball odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
With an 8-1 conference record, the Wolverines sit atop the Big Ten, ahead of Illinois (10-3) and Ohio State (11-4). The Badgers are tied for fourth at 9-5.
Michigan at Wisconsin: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:15 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Michigan -110 (bet $110 to win $100) | Wisconsin -110 (bet $110 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Michigan +1.5 (-120) | Wisconsin -1.5 (+100)
- Over/Under: 133.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Michigan at Wisconsin: Three things to know
- Due to COVID-19 issues, Michigan has been on a pause and hasn’t played since Jan. 22. The Wolverines opened the season 11-0 (6-0 Big Ten) before losing at then-No. 19 Minnesota 75-57 as 5.5-point favorites Jan. 16. They followed with back-to-back, double-digit victories over Maryland and Purdue and were then hit by the pause. Freshman C Hunter Dickinson leads Michigan in scoring (15.1 points per game), rebounds (7.2 RPG) and blocks (1.4 BPG).
- Wisconsin has alternated wins and losses over its past seven games. The Badgers’ last outing was a 61-48 victory at Nebraska as 11-point favorites. They’re 11-2 at home, including 5-2 in Big Ten action. Senior G D’Mitrik Trice’s leads Wisconsin in scoring (13.5 PPG) and assists (3.8 APG), while senior F Micah Potter averages 11.8 PPG and a team-high 6.1 RPG.
- Michigan had no problem beating Wisconsin 77-54 as a 2.5-point home favorite Jan. 12 in the first regular-season meeting between the rivals. The Wolverines used a 43-6 run – hitting the final 14 points of the first half and opening the second with a 29-6 spurt – to sink the Badgers. Senior G Mike Smith’s 16 points led four Wolverines in double figures, while Trice scored a game-high 20 for the Badgers.
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Michigan at Wisconsin: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Wisconsin 66, Michigan 63
Money line (ML)
WISCONSIN (-110) is the STRONGEST PLAY – 1½ times your usual wager. The Badgers feature the Big Ten’s stingiest defense, allowing just 62.4 PPG.
Facing that challenge on the road, having not played in 23 days and being unable to practice as a full unit for two weeks are just too many negatives for the Wolverines.
Don’t get me wrong. Michigan is by far the better team, but the circumstances point to WISCONSIN in this one.
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Against the spread (ATS)
PASS. If the money line juice climbs above -130, forget that wager and make Wisconsin -1.5 (+100) the STRONGEST PLAY.
ATS: Michigan 11-3 | Wisconsin 10-10-1
Over/Under (O/U)
Back the UNDER 133.5 (-110). These are the two best defenses in the Big Ten. Wisconsin is first, allowing 62.4 PPG; Michigan is second at 65.4 PPG.
When it comes to conference games only, Michigan is first (63.1 PPG), just ahead of Wisconsin (64.5 PPG).
O/U records: Michigan 7-7-1 | Wisconsin 10-10-1
Want some action on this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.
| Johnny’s 2020-21 CBK record / Strongest plays | 62-51-1 / 26-29 |
| 2020-21 CBK return on investment | +3.025 |
| CBK record since Jan. 1 / Strongest plays / ROI | 47-34-1 / 21-19 / +9.75 |
| 2021 record (all sports) / Strongest plays / ROI | 62-43-1 / 31-21 / +21.05 |
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