The top-seeded Baylor Bears (23-2) take on the Wisconsin Badgers (18-12) in a South Region second-round game Sunday. The matinée battle between the Bears and ninth-seeded Badgers tips off at 2:40 p.m. ET at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Below, we analyze the Baylor-Wisconsin odds and lines, with March Madness NCAA Tournament picks and predictions.
Baylor bolted past Hartford 79-55 in its first-round game. The Bears were sharp defensively, which was a concern for them entering this tournament after struggling down the stretch in the regular season. Senior G MaCio Teague knocked down four 3-pointers in scoring a game-high 22 points against Hartford. The Cincinnati native has averaged 24.5 points per game over his last four outings.
Wisconsin played perhaps its best game of the season in dismantling North Carolina 85-62 in the first round. The Badgers were 13-for-27 (48.1%) behind the 3-point arc in claiming their first victory of 20-plus points since Dec. 19. The senior backcourt tandem of G Brad Davison (29 points) and G D’Mitrik Trice (21) combined to net 50 points in the victory.
Baylor vs. Wisconsin: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:44 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Baylor -300 (bet $300 to win $100) | Wisconsin +240 (bet $100 to win $240)
- Against the spread/ATS: Baylor -6.5 (-110) | Wisconsin +6.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 136.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Baylor vs. Wisconsin: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Baylor 72, Wisconsin 63
Money line (ML)
Baylor can struggle against teams that really bang the offensive glass. Wisconsin is not that type of team. The Bears are a definite lean, but a price north of -250 won’t bring enough value. PASS.
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Against the spread (ATS)
The Badgers play an extreme slow-down style. Against plodding teams in the Big 12 (Texas Tech, TCU, Kansas State, Oklahoma), the Bears went 6-0 ATS.
Wisconsin is 0-6 ATS in follow-up games after its last six ATS wins. With a number under 7, the Badgers look to be getting a bit too much attention coming off what was a clicking-on-all-cylinders game. Like a thoroughbred coming off a race with an idyllic trip – overrated.
Both sides can bomb away from distance, but BU is much better on perimeter defense. The Bears can also get out and double up the Badgers in transition buckets.
BACK THE BEARS -6.5 (-110).
Over/Under (O/U)
Was hoping for a 139-and-a-hook or something close. Gaming this one into the mid-130s makes sense. Respect to the public for being near the number. PASS.
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