The Wisconsin Badgers, now ranked 14th in the country, hit the road today in Big Ten college basketball action against the Penn State Nittany Lions. The game is scheduled for a 12 p.m. start time and it will be televised live on the Big Ten Network. Currently the odds for the game have Wisconsin as a small favorite to win the game.
Wisconsin sits in third place by themselves in the Big Ten standings behind conference-leader Michigan and the second place Michigan State Spartans. A victory today, however, would put Wisconsin in a tie for second place with the Spartans. Can the Badgers continue to rise in the bracketologist rankings and potentially end up with a pretty high seed? Certainly Bo Ryan's team, even on the road, can get it done in this game.
At one point this season, Wisconsin was ranked third in the country before a loss to probable conference champion Michigan. But they certainly hit a tough stretch at one point this season, dropping several games they probably shouldn't have. But now Wisconsin has won six straight games, averaging better than 72 points per game during the time.
Sam Dekker leads the Badgers at almost 14 points per game while big man Frank Kaminsky is playing very good basketball the past few weeks. He is going to cause a lot of problems for Penn State inside in this game. Wisconsin finds a way to win games with slower possessions, solid defense and rebounding the basketball. And in this game, the Badgers will look to score as many points as possible against a Penn State defense that allows a league-high 72.2 points per game.
Penn State has a pair of decent guards in DJ Newbill and Tim Frazier. In fact, both had big games in the Nittany Lions' win over Ohio State earlier this week, which came on senior night where Frazier was honored. Each could have big games against Wisconsin in this one, but the Badgers do have pretty solid guards themselves.
Playing on the road this season has shown Wisconsin compiling a 13-3 record. Penn State in home games has gone just 9-7. The Nittany Lions have had a lot of trouble against Big Ten teams this season, as they've gone just 3-10 against all teams in the league except Ohio State. And they might have the ability to push Wisconsin in this game, but in the end we like the Badgers to get this one done. They are just playing at too high of a level for Penn State, who is coming off an emotional win.
Free Pick: Wisconsin 71, Penn State 58
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