The #14 Wisconsin Badgers (12-4, 6-3 Big Ten) battles the Maryland Terrapins (9-7, 3-6 Big Ten) in midweek conference play. Maryland took care of Wisconsin, 70-64, back in late December, handing the Badgers a rare home loss. Wednesday night’s tipoff starts at 9 p.m. EST inside the XFINITY Center in College Park, MD. Wisconsin comes into the contest as a 3-point favorite over the Terrapins, according to oddsmakers.
What to Know – Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin begins a two-game road trip out east after hosting a pair of conference games last week. The Badgers split the home games, knocking off Northwestern before falling to Ohio State on Saturday. Wisconsin sits tied with Illinois for third place in the conference standings.
The Badgers average 72.6 points and allow opponents to score 62.2 points per game for a +10.4 average margin of victory. Wisconsin’s 62.2-point scoring defense leads the Big Ten. Offensively, the Badgers are one of the most balanced units in the nation, with all five starters averaging 9.3 points or more per game.
Guard D’Mitrik Trice averages a team-high 14.6 points per game and is coming off a 12 point, eight assist effort in the loss to the Buckeyes. Forward Micah Potter is Wisconsin’s second-leading scorer, averaging 12.1 points per game with 13 games reach double figures.
Wisconsin is an even 8-8 against the spread this season, including a 2-2 on the road. The Badgers are an impressive 11-3 ATS as the favorites.
What to Know – Maryland Terrapins
Maryland welcomes the Badgers after a pair of conference road games against ranked opponents. The Terrapins turn their attention to the Badgers in hopes of knocking off a second-straight ranked opponent this year. Maryland finds itself sitting in tenth place in the Big Ten standings.
The Terrapins score 65.2 points and surrender 71.8 points per game this year. Maryland stepped up on the defensive against Minnesota, holding the Golden Gophers to a season-low 49 points.
Maryland has had four players scores 20 points or more in a game this season. Eric Ayala leads the charge averaging 14.4 points per game for the host. Ayala scored a team-high 21 points in Saturday’s victory.
Forward Donte Scott (13.0 ppg) and guard Aaron Wiggins (12.2 ppg) add additional options for Maryland’s offense. Wiggins and Scott combined to score 27 points against the Badgers in their first meeting.
The Terrapins are 7-8 ATS this season and just 2-4 in their last six contests. Maryland sports a 3-5 record ATS on their home floor, including 1-5 in their previous six home games.
The Pick is In
The Terrapins shot 50-percent from the field and outscored the Badgers in the paint, 38-20, in their late December meeting. Wisconsin has dropped their last two games against ranked opponents after opening the season with three victories over ranked foes. Maryland hasn’t been particularly good at covering at home, and while Wisconsin has played up-and-down this season, the Badgers should fare much better than they did in the previous meeting.
The Pick: Wisconsin -3
