College Basketball on Wednesday and we will see the Virginia Cavaliers travel to Madison, Wisconsin to take on the Wisconsin Badgers as part of the ACC/ Big Ten Challenge. The game is scheduled for a 7:00 pm (Eastern) start time and will be televised live on ESPN 2. Currently the odds for the game have Wisconsin favored by 9.5 points while the total sits at 112. Check out Sportsbook Spy to see who the Public is taking on all of today's games.
Free Analysis: Virginia opened its season on the road with a 63-59 loss at George Mason before diving into five straight home games as part of the NIT Season Tip-Off. The Cavaliers dropped to the consolation bracket following a 59-53 loss to Delaware, where they have piled up three straight wins since over the likes of Seattle (83-43), Lamar (63-44) and North Texas (80-64). The Cavaliers thrive on playing strong defense - they hold opponents to 53 points per game and 37.2 percent shooting - but they've heated up on offense lately, shooting 52.3 percent from the field and 48.8 percent from 3-point range during the three-game win streak. The Cavaliers have shown solid balance on the offensive end with seven players averaging at least 6.5 points. Junior guard Joe Harris (15 points, 4.5 rebounds) leads the way and junior forward Akil Mitchell (11.7 points, 9.3 rebounds) is the only other player in double figures. Virginia is young, with five freshmen having started at least one game. Virginia is 20-1 under Bennett when holding opponents under 50 points - including 3-0 this season - and 27-2 when scoring at least 70.
Wisconsin began the year ranked in the Top-25, but it has since dropped out of the rankings following losses to ranked foes Florida (74-56) and Creighton (84-74). The Badgers recently claimed third-place in the Las Vegas Invitational by defeating Arkansas, 77-70. The Badgers are just 6-7 all-time in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, but they've won six of their past seven games against ACC teams and are 4-1 at Kohl Center in the event. Wisconsin has been inconsistent this season, especially at the defensive end where it has allowed fewer than 50 points on three occasions while giving up 70 or more points three times. For the first time this season, the Badgers were able to win while allowing 70 points against Arkansas by cashing in from beyond the three-point line (8-of-19) and from the charity stripe (25-of-38). The team had five players score in double figures in the victory, paced by Sam Dekker, who shot 7-of-13 from the field for 19 points off the bench. On the season, Wisconsin incorporates a balanced offensive attack, led by Jared Berggren's 15.2 ppg on greater than 55 percent from the floor. Ben Brust (11.8 ppg) hasn't been as productive with his field goal attempts (.397), but he is the team's best rebounder with 8.5 per contest. Dekker (11.5 ppg) has been solid as the club's sixth man, and Ryan Evans (10.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg) rounds out a physical frontcourt.
Free Pick: I'm looking at the Over in this one. The Badgers usually play solid defense but they have been a bit inconsistent at that end of the floor, allowing 70+ points 3 times so far. Overall they come in allowing 59.7 ppg, while the Cavaliers have put up 65.3 ppg on the year, so I fully expect Virginia to hit at least 57 points in this one. The Badgers have been a solid offensive club this year as they have averaged a healthy 75.8 ppg on the year. This is a good shooting team that hits 44.4% of their shots (138th) and that includes 35.3% from long range (123rd). Virginia is also a good shooting team, hitting 45.2% of their shots (108th), while also hitting 37.4% from long ranges (76th). Defensively the Cavs have been solid, but the Badger offense has been very good and should be able to notch at least 60 points tonight. Both teams do slow the pace, but both also take allot of 3's and have been good from behind the arc, plus this could be a physical game with a lot of fouls and both teams are very good from the line. Look for this one to finish in the 120's.
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