Wisconsin vs. Marquette Odds, Picks & Prediction | College Basketball Betting Preview (Saturday, Dec. 3)
Patrick McDermott/Getty Images. Pictured: Shaka Smart
- An interstate battle is set for this afternoon in Milwaukee as Wisconsin travels to Marquette.
- The Golden Eagles are coming off a blowout of then-No. 6 Baylor and have been installed as short favorites against their rival.
- Continue reading for a full breakdown of this matchup, including a betting prediction.
Wisconsin vs. Marquette Odds
| Wisconsin Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5.5 -110 | 135.5 -112o / -108u | +188 |
| Marquette Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5.5 -110 | 135.5 -112o / -108u | -230 |
The Big Ten meets the Big East a marquee matchup Saturday afternoon in Milwaukee. The Wisconsin Badgers take on their in-state rivals, the Marquette Golden Eagles.
Wisconsin has gotten off to an impressive start to the season after losing a lot of talent from last year. The Badgers have already racked wins over USC and Dayton, while their only two losses came by narrow margins to Kansas and Wake Forest.
The same can be said for the Golden Eagles, as they have always been a program that plays up to their competition, and this season appears to be no different. Their latest victory was a blowout over No. 6 Baylor, and they more than held their own in a tough loss to a surging Purdue team.
Let's dig into this matchup, as we can use both of these teams' strengths to our advantage.
Wisconsin Badgers
It's a bit of a surprise to see the Badgers performing so well against elite competition. While they do deserve the credit, the way they've been shooting will not produce more wins if it continues.
Tyler Wahl and Chucky Hepburn have emerged as the top two scoring options for Wisconsin. However, they may only be averaging double figures because of their usage, as they are shooting a combined 36 percent from the field.
They are not alone when it comes to shooting struggles either. The Badgers as a team have an effective field goal percentage of just 45.6 percent. That is good for 304th in the nation.
What's even more concerning about their poor shooting is that they are not converting the higher percentage looks. They are shooting just 26.2 percent on farther twos and have converted just two-thirds of their dunks.
They will now face a Marquette team that is not elite defensively but has already proven they can hold their own against far better competition. If the Badgers are unable to sink threes, we could see another subpar performance.
Marquette Golden Eagles
If you have yet to watch this Marquette team, then you are in for a treat. The Golden Eagles have put on a passing clinic on the offensive end of the court, and it has led to great success.
Marquette is eighth in the country in assists to field goals made. They will work the ball around to try and create as high a percentage look as possible, which is shown by their 2-point percentage, which ranks 13th nationally.
This style of offense has gotten multiple guys on the board, as they run eight deep, and four of them are averaging double-figures. However, this Wisconsin team presents a unique challenge.
The key to the Badgers' success is their defense. They do everything well, from clogging passing lanes to contesting looks. Their solid fundamental defense has hampered some prolific teams thus far.
The Badgers are 16th in adjusted defensive efficiency and 309th in average possession length. The clock will be a significant factor in any game with the Badgers, but for the Golden Eagles, it will be tough to establish their tempo.
Marquette is the sixth-fastest team in the nation, and if they are slowed down by the Badgers, their offense may hit a wall.
Wisconsin vs. Marquette Betting Pick
This game has all the makings of a slugfest. Wisconsin has won games by forcing teams into their style of basketball, and the Golden Eagles are likely to suffer the same fate.
However, the Badgers have been horrid on the offensive end of the floor and will not have many high-percentage looks against Marquette here.
Wisconsin is 4-3 to the under this season, and will improve on that record here as any total in the 130s will prove to be too high.
Pick: Under 135.5 (Play to 133) |
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