The 15th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers hit the road for a huge Big Ten battle with Michigan State, who will look to improve on their No. 7 rank and overall 20-5 record Thursday at Breslin Center.
Wisconsin has won four straight road games and come in here as 6-point underdogs. They lost at home in January against MSU, which was the first time in 10 meetings that the home team did not win.
The Badgers also boast the nation's stingiest defense, which accounts for the very low over under value (114.5).
The Badgers will try to spoil to the party on Thursday; they are 13-9 ATS against the number this season, while the Spartans are 16-7 ATS. Wisconsin is 8-14 on the totals; Michigan State is 11-10-2.
View Wisconsin vs Michigan State Odds and Stats.
Betting Line:
On the Sportsbook NCAA basketball line for this matchup, Michigan State sat as 5.5-point favorites at shops like Sportsbook. The total was at 114.5 at Sportsbook.
Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Spartans sit at No. 1 in the current college hoops power poll here at Odds Shark, while the Badgers sit at No. 33 on the same chart. The computers running our scores simulations have concluded that the Spartans will win this game 78-76.
How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Michigan State's No. 66 nationally ranked offense (73.2 points per game) against a Badgers defense that sits as the No. 1 at 50.3 PPG. The Spartans have been averaging 47.2% from the field, more than the Badgers have managed so far this season (42.7% on average).
Defensively, Wisconsin features the nation's No. 3-rated defense on the road, allowing 54.2 points per game. Michigan State, meanwhile, comes in at No. 49 nationally in scoring at home.
In their last action, Wisconsin was a 68-61 Sportsbook on the road against Minnesota. They covered the 1.5-point spread as favorites. Wisconsin got 27 points from Jordan Taylor en route to a 68-61 victory over Minnesota on Thursday at Williams Arena.
Michigan State was a 58-48 Sportsbook in its last match on the road against Ohio State. They covered the 8.5-point spread as underdogs. The Spartans got 15 points from Adreian Payne as Michigan State ran past Ohio State 58-48 on Saturday at Value City Arena.
Wisconsin Badgers Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 8-2
Before playing Penn State are 8-2
After playing Minnesota are 7-3
After a win are 8-2
Michigan State Spartans Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 8-2
Before playing Purdue are 6-4
After playing Ohio State are 7-3
After a win are 8-2
A few Badgers at Spartans trends to consider:
Wisconsin is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Wisconsin's last 5 games when playing on the road against Michigan State
Wisconsin is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Michigan State
Wisconsin is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Michigan State
Michigan State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Michigan State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Wisconsin
Michigan State is 20-3 SU in its last 23 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Michigan State's last 5 games
Next up:
Wisconsin home to Penn State, Sunday, February 19
Michigan State at Purdue, Sunday, February 19
