Two schools short on glamour but long on reputations for defense and hard work clash iin the Southwest region when Wisconsin takes on Butler.
Butler pulled a pair of upsets to make it here, while Wisconsin showed in beating Ohio State in February that it can hang with the best teams.
Jordan Taylor should be the difference in this game for the Badgers, who are favored by 4.5 points at most shops. Their presence in the Round of 16 is why the Big Ten is favored to produce the eventual Madness champion (as them and Ohio State remain as threats) at Sportsbook.
View Butler vs Wisconsin Odds and Stats.
Betting Line:
Bettors looking to side with Wisconsin in this one will find them as 4.5-point favorites.
Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Power Rankings at Odds Shark show No. 38-rated Butler taking on the No. 117-rated Badgers in this contest. The scores prediction computer here indicates a possible 76-74 win for the Badgers on Thursday.
How They Match Up:
Rating these schools in several key categories is important for handicappers and Wisconsin has the nation's No. 185-rated offensive output, at 68.4 PPG. The visiting Bulldogs defense ranks No. 80 allowing on average 64.6 PPG. The Badgers FG% has averaged 44.6% so far, more than the Bulldogs marksmen have achieved on the year, 44.5% per game.
Comparing how these foes stack up statistically, Butler owns the country's No. 54-rated mark, allowing 65.8 points per game on the highway. Wisconsin, on the other hand, rates No. 167 in scoring at home.
Butler was a 71-70 Sportsbook in their most recent outing against Pittsburgh. They covered the 8–point spread as underdogs.
Wisconsin won its last outing, a 70-65 result against Kansas State on March 19. They covered in that game as a 3.5-point favorite.
Butler Bulldogs Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 9-1
After a win are 10-0
Wisconsin Badgers Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 5-5
After playing Kansas State are 0-1
After a win are 7-3
A few Bulldogs at Badgers trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Wisconsin's last 6 games
Wisconsin is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games
