The USC Trojans take on the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison, Wisconsin. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. ET on Peacock.
Wisconsin is favored by 7.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -385. The total is set at 159.5 points.
Here’s my USC vs. Wisconsin prediction and college basketball picks for January 25, 2026.
USC vs Wisconsin Prediction
My Pick: Over 159.5 (Play to 162)
My USC vs Wisconsin best bet is on the over. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
USC vs. Wisconsin Odds
| USC Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -108 | 159.5 -110o / -110u | +300 |
| Wisconsin Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -112 | 159.5 -110o / -110u | -385 |
- USC vs Wisconsin spread: Wisconsin -7.5
- USC vs Wisconsin over/under: 159.5 points
- USC vs Wisconsin moneyline: USC +300, Wisconsin -385
USC vs Wisconsin College Basketball Betting Preview
USC Basketball
Five-star freshman Alijah Arenas made his college debut for the Trojans on Wednesday night in a surprising home loss to Northwestern. While Arenas was rusty and only scored eight points on inefficient 3-of-15 shooting, his insertion into the lineup provides some much-needed juice into this USC lineup.
Eric Musselman’s group started the year 12-1, but is 2-4 since. Initially, after losing two very key pieces in Rodney Rice and Amarion Dickerson, the Trojans were able to keep playing winning basketball.
Big Ten play was a rude awakening, though, and Musselman began to need big minutes out of midseason transfer portal addition Kam Woods, who is shooting 23% from the field.
Arenas forms a big three of sorts for USC, alongside veterans Chad Baker-Mazara and Ezra Ausar. These two are incredibly strong and skilled shot creators who excel at getting to the free-throw line. USC is third in the nation in free-throw attempt rate.
USC is down to a season-low 51st on KenPom, checking in at 71st offensively and 46th defensively. Musselman’s defense is highlighted by elite rim protection (10th nationally in block rate) and strong 3-point defense, as opponents are shooting sub 30% from behind the arc.
Wisconsin Basketball
The Badgers have won five straight games dating back to January 6, and now sit at 14-5 on the year and 6-2 in the Big Ten.
Two weeks ago, Greg Gard’s group went into Ann Arbor and handed Michigan its first loss of the season as 20-point underdogs, effectively turning its season around. Wisconsin carried that momentum into Minneapolis, where a John Blackwell buzzer-beater lifted the Badgers over the Gophers.
Gard’s group is up to 39th in KenPom, with the 32nd-ranked offense and 57th-ranked defense. This Wisconsin team plays fast (45th in tempo), takes care of the ball (18th in turnover rate) and takes a ton of 3s (13th in 3-point attempt rate).
Nick Boyd and John Blackwell form a formidable backcourt duo, two guys who can create their own shot and provide a steadying presence out there.
Seven-footer Nolan Winter is one of the best rebounders in the nation and is a very efficient scorer on the inside.
A key element of Wisconsin’s mid-season improvement has been the play of Tulsa transfer Braeden Carrington. From December 10 to January 6, the senior guard didn’t see double-digit minutes in a single contest. In Wisconsin’s last four games, he’s averaging 14 points per game and is 14-of-28 from long range.
USC vs. Wisconsin Betting Analysis
In USC’s four Big Ten road contests, it got annihilated by 30+ against elite teams in Michigan and Michigan State, and squeaked out close wins against Oregon and Minnesota.
That makes this matchup against Wisconsin interesting, as the Badgers fall into the middle tier between those two pairs of opponents.
USC is last in the Big Ten in offensive efficiency during league play. Arenas entering the fold definitely changes the complexion of the entire offense, though, as his ability to create takes so much pressure off Baker-Mazara and Ausar, who have had to play plenty of hero ball since the Rice injury.
With these two teams being top-three in tempo in the league and both trending upwards offensively, I’m looking to make a play on the total.
My Pick: Over 159.5 (Play to 162)
