Pittsburgh Panthers vs Wisconsin Badgers NCAA Betting Preview & Odds

Current betting odds for this game have the have the Badgers listed as 2 point favorites, while the total has been set at 131.

The Pittsburgh Panthers had an up and down season that saw them pull some big upsets, but also have some strong losses. They come in at  21-11 SU, but 12-17 ATS on the year. The Panthers are not riding momentum as they are just 2-4 SU and 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games and they were just 4-7 ATS vs non-conference teams this year, but we also note that Jamie Dixon is 25-11 SU and 23-13 ATS vs a team that lost their last game SU as a favorite and the Panthers were 18-4 SU this year vs Sub .777 opponents. The Panthers go about 11 deep, but just five of them average 6.1 ppg or more. They are led by Michael Young, who averages 16.0 ppg and also leads the team in rebounding at 7.0 rpg. Jamel Artis (14.4 ppg) and James Robinson (10.3 ppg) round out the double digit scorers on the team. Pittsburgh has been a decent offensive team this year as they come in ranked 106th in the nation in scoring, putting up 76.0 ppg, while also ranking 72nd in shooting overall, 166th in 3-point shooting and 16th from the free throw line. On defense the Panthers have been solid as well as they come in allowing just 67.9 ppg, which is 78th in the nation, but they are just 185th in defensive FG% overall and 244th in 3-point defense.  The Panthers come in at 81st in the nation in rebounding, while they commit just 11.6 turnovers per game (85th) and force just 11.5 turnovers per game (268th).

The Wisconsin Badgers are making their 18th consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament, but this is not the same team that made it to the Final Four the last two years. Still, this was one of the hotter teams in the nation down the stretch as they went 10-2 in their last 12 regular season games, after starting the year at 1-4 in big 10 play. They were upset in their long Big 10 tournament game vs Nebraska, so they do come in on a two game losing streak. The Badgers were 8-5-2 ATS vs Tournament teams this year, but they were also just 4-7 ATS vs non-conference teams. The Badgers have just 5 players that average more than 3.1 ppg and are led by Nigel Hayes, who scores 16.3 ppg. Bronson Koenig is 2nd at 113.4 ppg, while Ethan Happ is 3rd at 12.1 ppg and he leads the team in rebounding at 7.8 rpg. Wisconsin has not been a good  offensive team this year as they come in ranked 267th in the nation in scoring, putting up just 68.9 ppg, while also ranking 228th in shooting overall, 128th in 3-point shooting and 143 at the charity stripe. On defense they have been solid as usual as they come in ranked 25th in the nation in points allowed, giving up just 64.6 ppg, but they are just 143rd in defensive FG% overall and 327th in 3-point defense. The Badgers come in at 223rd in the nation in rebounding, while they commit just 10.9 turnovers per game (34th) and force just 12.2 turnovers per game (207th).

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