The Indiana Hoosiers (7-1, 1-0 Big Ten) and No. 17 Wisconsin Badgers (7-1, 0-0) are lined up for a 7 p.m. ET Wednesday at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. Below, we look at the Indiana vs. Wisconsin odds and lines and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Indiana’s only loss came two games back when the Hoosiers fell to Syracuse 112-110 in double-overtime. IU responded with a 68-55 triumph in its Big Ten opener, which was Saturday versus Nebraska. The overtime score against Syracuse aside, Indiana has been quite good on defense through the season’s first month of action. Wednesday’s game at Madison is a match-up of the Big Ten’s No. 1 defense (Wisconsin, 59.1 points per game) and the league’s No. 5 defense (IU, 63.8).
The Badgers clocked an 89-76 win over Marquette Saturday. The win by 13 came after three straight Wisconsin victories by margins of two scores or less. UW is 3-1 at home; the team’s lone loss came at home against Providence Nov. 15. Since then, the Badgers are 5-0 straight up and 5-0 against the spread.
Indiana at Wisconsin odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:45 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Indiana +160 (bet $100 to win $160) | Wisconsin -200 (bet $200 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Indiana +4.5 (-120) | Wisconsin -4.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 132.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Indiana at Wisconsin odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Wisconsin 67, Indiana 63
Money line
PASS. The Under looks to be the best play in this one. For sides, Wisconsin minus the points has just a tiny margin for some action, and that’s better than what you’ll find here.
Against the spread
The Hoosiers are 0-6 ATS in their last six games as an underdog. The Badgers are 4-0 ATS in their last four games as a favorite. Across the last 10 series meetings, Wisconsin is 7-3 ATS vs. Indiana.
Both these teams are solid with their inside defense. But in that matchup, the Hoosiers may rely a bit too much on points in the paint. How a young IU team responds on the road – a young team that has thus far played an easy schedule – will dictate whether this is a one-score game or something else. The best play here, though by a small degree in a low-scoring environment, is on the something else.
TAKE THE BADGERS -4.5 (-108).
Over/Under
Wisconsin plays a slow-tempo game and one more dependent on 2-point baskets without a lot of second looks. These are both young teams that generally look to avoid a lot of foul trouble, and that may keep free throws in check here as well.
BACK THE UNDER 132.5 (-110).
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