College Basketball Pick: Wisconsin Badgers at #6 Michigan State Spartans

Tonight, Friday, Jan. 26 at 8:00 p.m. E.T. the Wisconsin Badgers (10-11 Overall, 3-5 Big Ten) are at the #6 Michigan State Spartans (18-3 Overall, 6-2 Big Ten). The game is scheduled to be played in East Lansing, Michigan, at the Breslin Center. In the Big Ten, the Wisconsin Badgers, who are in 10th place, are 5.5 games away from the first-place Perdue Boilermakers. Michigan State Spartans sit in third place and are 2.5 games out of first. Our Wisconsin plays Michigan State 2018 Big Ten basketball pick offers the Spartan at either –17.0 or -17.5 and the over/under at 136 even.

Recent History

The Badgers have lost four of their last five games. Thus far this season, they have played five nationally-ranked teams and lost every one. Their last win was on Jan. 19 when they beat Illinois 75-50. Their last game was Jan. 23 when they played Iowa at Iowa and lost 85-67. The Michigan State Spartans have struggled a bit as of late going 3-2 for their last five games. Prior to those last five games, the Badgers had won 14 straight games. Their recent losses were to Ohio State 80-64 on Jan. 7 and Michigan 82-72 on Jan. 13. Their last two wins were against Indiana 85-57 on Jan. 19 and Illinois 87-74 on Jan. 22.

Matchup

The Spartans come to this game armed and ready to score. Along with putting up on average 85.3 PPG, the team has a field goal mark of 52.4%. That’s in contrast to the Wisconsin, which is averaging 68.3 PPG and putting in 46.2% of their shots. The Spartans are almost +11, +5.6 in blocks, and +8 over the Badgers in rebounds, blocked shots, and assists. Each team is limiting opponents to about 64 PPG. From the arc, the Spartans are hitting 42% while the Badgers are connecting on only 34%.

Players to Watch

The tops scorers for the Badgers are forward Ethan Happ and guard Brad Davison. Happ is scoring on average 16.9 PPG and bringing in 8.6 RPG while making 3.8 APG. Davison is putting in 11.8 PPG and is good on 38% of his threes. The Spartans have five players who are averaging double-digits in points and three players are grabbing on average six-plus rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Cassius Winston is a fine playmaker, averaging 7.0 APG. He’s a 53% three-point shooter. Forwards Miles Bridges and Nick Ward are the top players, scoring 17.7 and 14.1 points per game and grabbing 7.3 and 7.5 rebounds per game respectively.

Wisconsin Plays Michigan State 2018 Big Ten Basketball Pick

The Spartans are an awful lot for the Badgers to handle. We do think that at home the Michigan State team will run away with this game. Our Wisconsin plays Michigan State 2018 Big Ten basketball pick is the Spartans at -17.0. We are tsaking the over at 136.0.

Summary Badgers at Spartans- Michigan State at -17.0 and over 136.0