The Rhode Island Rams (3-2) head to Madison to play the Wisconsin Badgers (3-1) at the Kohl Center at 4:30 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Rhode Island-Wisconsin college basketball betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
The Badgers are No. 13 in the USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll.
Rhode Island at Wisconsin: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:25 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Rhode Island +500 (bet $100 to win $500) | Wisconsin -715 (bet $715 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Rhode Island +11 (-110) | Wisconsin -11 (-110)
- Over/Under: 135.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)
Rhode Island at Wisconsin: Three things to know
- Rhode Island stumbled out of the gate, losing its first two games, but has won three in a row since. The Rams rolled Seton Hall 76-63 as 2-point underdogs, covering a third straight spread to push their ATS record up to 4-1 ATS.
- Wisconsin lost to in-state, out-of-conference rival Marquette 67-65 Dec. 4 thanks to a game-winning basket on a tip-in of a Golden Eagles missed free throw as time expired. Wisconsin has struggled to meet bookmakers’ expectations as it fell to 1-3 ATS.
- The Badgers’ originally scheduled opponent was No. 24 Louisville but the Cardinals had to pause their team activities following an outbreak of COVID-19.
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Rhode Island at Wisconsin: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Wisconsin 70, Rhode Island 63
Money line (ML)
I am going to take the 11 points with Rhode Island and probably hold on for dear life as Wisconsin is by far the better team but the Badgers will have no fans in the stands and if they come out flat maybe the Rams can steal one.
Since I believe in the thinking of sprinkling a little cash on the underdog’s money line if you’re taking the points, I lean a quarter-unit on Rhode Island (+500) but feel free to pass if that’s not your style.
Against the spread (ATS)
How stoked do you think the Rams are to be thrust into the biggest game of their season out of the blue? Conversely, does Wisconsin not take Rhode Island as seriously as it should because they were expecting a ranked Power 5 opponent?
Plus, the Badgers have played a cupcake schedule (252nd-toughest schedule according to Sportsreference.com) and the Rams have played three Power 5 opponents thus far for the 59th-toughest schedule.
Rhode Island excels in its ability to get to the free-throw line and that should help keep this game competitive. The Rams are fifth in free-throw rate and the Badgers are 175th in opponents’ free-throw rate.
If Rhode Island’s two senior guards—Fatts Russell and Jeremy Sheppard—can penetrate and attack the rim they’ll get Wisconsin into foul trouble.
GIMME RHODE ISLAND +11 (-110) for 1.25 units.
Over/Under (O/U)
The market is hitting the Under 135.5 (-120) so I lean that way in Rhode Island-Wisconsin. The Badgers are one of the best defensive and slowest paced teams in the country. I am not very dialed into this total so officially I PASS.
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