NCAA Picks and Tips: Wisconsin Badgers vs Minnesota Golden Gophers
Thursday, February 09, 2012
by Mike Stewart
No. 22 Wisconsin Badgers leads the nation in scoring defense, holding opponents to 49.8 points. Where the Badgers struggle is on the other end. Minnesota Golden Gophers is riding the bubble right now and could use a big week to boost its NCAA Tournament resume, with No. 3 Ohio State on tap after Wisconsin. The Gophers have the misfortune of catching Wisconsin outside the Kohl Center. Oddly, the Badgers have been a stronger team away from home, shooting 40.2 percent from beyond the arc in road games while connecting at a 23 percent clip at home.
- Wisconsin Badgers @ Minnesota Golden Gophers
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, February 9, 2012
Where: Williams Arena, Minneapolis, Minnesota
TV: ET, ESPN
The Golden Gophers have opened as 1-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NCAA Basketball Odds.
Wisconsin Badgers (18-6): The Badgers had recorded a total of six conference losses at home in the Bo Ryan’s first 10 seasons. They are already halfway to that mark in 2011-12. Wisconsin suffered a big blow to its hopes of a Big Ten regular-season championship with a home loss to Ohio State last weekend but hopes to recover with four of its last seven on the road, including visits to No. 12 Michigan State and Ohio State. The Badgers have not eclipsed 57 points in any of their last three games and have not won at Minnesota since 2008.
Minnesota Golden Gophers (17-7): The Gophers met Wisconsin only once last season, suffering a 68-60 loss in Madison despite dominating on the glass, 37-24. Minnesota allowed Badgers point guard Jordan Taylor to go off for 22 points. The Gophers rank in the middle of the pack defensively in the Big Ten but have won five of their last seven games by being balanced offensively. The reserves scored 40 points in a 69-61 win over Nebraska on Sunday and Minnesota has put up an average of 75.6 points in its last five victories. After beginning the conference slate with four straight losses, the Gophers finish up the Big Ten regular season with five of their last seven at home.
1. Wisconsin is 13-4 against Minnesota in the Bo Ryan era.
2. Taylor's streak of 159 minutes without a turnover came to an end in the second half last Saturday.
3. Minnesota leads the Big Ten in blocked shots (5.4).
NCAA BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Badgers 61,Golden Gophers 58.
Bet on NCAA College Basketball games with SBG Global Sportsbook
Related Articles
- Sweet Sixteen Odds: Wisconsin Badgers vs Syracuse Orange
- Sweet Sixteen Predictions: Wisconsin Badgers vs Syracuse Orange
- 2012 Sweet 16 Odds: Wisconsin vs Syracuse with no Fab Melo
- NCAA Basketball Odds: Vanderbilt Commodores vs Wisconsin Badgers
- NCAA Basketball Picks and Tips: Montana Grizzlies vs Wisconsin Badgers
Category
Tags
jordan taylor - minnesota golden gophers - williams arena - wisconsin badgers
