The best USA sportsbooks favor Wisconsin over Colgate when the Badgers and the Raiders play in an NCAA tournament first round matchup in college basketball action from the Fiserv Forum on Friday night.
Colgate Raiders vs. Wisconsin Badgers Odds
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colgate | +4 ( -110 ) | 65½ ( -110 ) | +195 |  |
| Wisconsin | -4 ( -110 ) | 65½ ( -110 ) | -235 | |
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Betting Wisconsin Badgers
The Badgers are favored at the best online sportsbooks. We don’t want to say that the Badgers have gotten lucky this season, but it’s either luck or a miracle. Over and over again they have pulled off close wins. Their past five games have been all decided by six points or fewer.
Johnny Davis has led this squad all season. His ability to do everything gives opponents a migraine and creates room for Tyler Wahl and Brad Davidson to do what they do. Point guard Chucky Hepburn has developed well. All of those tight games should help this team a lot in March.
Greg Gard’s team isn’t the most efficient, but they guard the ball well. They find open looks in almost every possession. Their defense isn’t exactly top-notch, but the Badgers won’t give teams a lot of second chances. That makes it tough for any team to defeat them.
Wisconsin tied for the Big Ten title and finished the regular season 24-6. The 18th-ranked strength of schedule, as well as their analytics, don’t reflect their performance. All of these close contests indicate that they are due for a potential early loss. We shall see if this Wisconsin luck can continue and how far Davis can lead this team.
Betting Colgate Raiders
The Raiders are the underdogs according to the best USA sportsbooks. Colgate returns to the tournament for a third year in a row. Head coach Matt Langel has done a good job. Colgate ranks as one of the top teams in the nation when it comes to shot quality. The Raiders might not be the most athletic team, but they shoot from three very well.
Colgate is second in the nation in a three-point percentage with 40.1%. Nearly 39% of their points come from the three-point line (21st highest in the nation). They are consistent and have tournament experience.
They are able to surprise a high-seeded team. Since Jan. 10, Colgate has lost only one game, and they defeated Syracuse earlier this year. Many of their losses took place during a long stretch of road games when they were without their star, Nelly Cummings.
Colgate basically does not take shots from midrange. They either take a deep look or find a way to get to the rim. The Raiders are good at what they do, but their approach won’t surprise a lot of teams. From a betting standpoint, we like Colgate’s first-half spread bets at the best USA sportsbooks.
If they open versus a team that focuses on interior defense, Colgate might be able to get one open look after another, forcing their opponent to adjust following the first half. To beating Colgate you have to beat them in transition. Force them inside, and capitalize on the board.
Colgate isn’t fearsome, but they could manage a bracket-busting upset, considering their prolific shooting.
Colgate Raiders vs. Wisconsin Badgers First Round Pick
The Badgers could have a handful with Colgate. The Raiders are an elite shooting team and they rank second in the country in three-point percentage. They are not particularly strong on defense, but they clean up the defensive board and defend without committing fouls. This game will be for all intents and purposes a Wisconsin home game since they will play in Milwaukee. However, it won’t be a cakewalk for Wisconsin. Colgate +9.
