Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Wisconsin Badgers

Rutgers Scarlet Knights (15-14 SU, 13-16 ATS ) at Wisconsin Badgers (17-11, 10-7), 3/7/24
When: 7 pm ET Thursday, March 7
Where: Kohl Center
TV: FS1
Spread: Rut +9.5/Wis -9.5
Over/under: 133.5

The Big 10 offers some early betting action Thursday night when two struggling teams, Rutgers and Wisconsin, meet in Madison. A few weeks ago, the Badgers popped into the Top 10 in the polls; since then, they’ve been trying to play their way out of an NCAA tournament bid.

Meanwhile, the Scarlet Knights already accomplished that unhappy feat; now, they’re playing just to extend their season.

Rutgers beat Wisconsin earlier this season, but the Badgers are favored by almost double-digits in this one.

Who do we like for our free Rutgers/Wisconsin pick?

NCAAB Betting Odds

Thursday’s CBB betting market opened Wisconsin at -9.5 over Rutgers, with an over/under of right around 133. Both figures were holding steady in the early betting action.

Rutgers-Wisconsin Betting Preview

The Knights won four games in a row back in February but are just 1-4 both SU and ATS since after losing at Nebraska last Sunday 67-56. Rutgers trailed 37-25 at the half, got within six points with about seven minutes left, but faded from there and came up short ATS at +9.

The Knights shot just 33 percent from the floor Sunday night.

Last Thursday Rutgers beat Michigan 82-52. But Michigan is terrible. And just before that the Knights lost three straight to Minnesota, Purdue and Maryland, all by double-digits.

At 15-14 overall and 7-11 in Big 10 play Rutgers won’t make the Big Dance so it’s now trying to secure a spot in the upcoming CBI tournament.

Meanwhile the Badgers, after a great start to this season, are just 2-7 SU and a bankroll-draining 0-9 ATS their last nine times out after falling at home to Illinois last Saturday 91-83. Wisconsin, which for some reason was favored by 3.5 points, tied the game at 68-68 with six minutes left but gave up a 13-3 Illini run and couldn’t recover.

The Badgers actually shot 50 percent from the floor Saturday but allowed Illinois to shoot 52 percent.

Two games ago Wisconsin allowed Indiana to shoot a scorching 62 percent from the field and lost 74-70. In fact, several teams shot the lights out against this Badgers defense over the last month or so.

At 18-11 overall, Wisconsin, thanks to some decent computer ratings, would make the NCAA tournament if the field were announced today. And at 10-8 in conference play, the Badgers still hold hope of claiming one of those top four seeds for the Big 10 tournament. But this team is
definitely headed in the wrong direction as of late.

Rutgers-Wisconsin Recent History

The Knights own the edge in the recent series with the Badgers, winning three of the last four meetings outright, going 2-1-1 ATS. One month ago Rutgers took the first meeting between the teams this season 78-56 in Piscataway.

The Knights scored the first nine points of the game that day, led 37-28 at the half, then pulled away in the second half. Rutgers hit 10/17 from 3-point land while Wisconsin couldn’t throw the ball in the hole to save its life.

Also, that game played over a total of 129 in garbage time.

College Basketball Betting Trends

This season, Rutgers is 3-8 SU and 4-7 ATS on the road.

Wisconsin is 13-3 SU, 7-8 ATS at home.

Totals Report

The Under is 20-9 in Knights games this season, averaging 132 total points.

The Over is 18-11 in Badgers games this season, averaging 144 points.

Free College Basketball Betting Pick

Supposedly, Wisconsin is the better team in this match-up, but you wouldn’t know it the way they’re playing lately. Teams sure do seem to shoot the ball well against the Badgers, including this Rutgers outfit not too long ago. The Knights only shot 33 percent from the floor last time out; we expect better here. Wisconsin shot 50 percent last time out; we expect worse. And Rutgers already knows how to beat the Badgers. We like the Knights plus the points for Thursday night.