Colgate vs Wisconsin Odds and Picks – Wisconsin an 8-Point Favorite in NCAA Tournament

• Wisconsin are 8 point favorites against Colgate on Friday, March 18th
• The Colgate Raiders come into this First Round matchup on a 15 game winning streak
• Read below for Colgate vs Wisconsin odds, predictions and best pick

One of the best college basketball players in the country, Johnny Davis, looks to put a poor Big Ten tournament performance against Michigan State behind him and show out at March Madness as his 3rd seeded Wisconsin Badgers (24-7, 17-14 ATS) take on the Colgate Raiders (23-11, 17-15-1 ATS) in First Round action on Friday, March 18th.

The Badgers are coming into this one on a two game losing streak in stark contrast to the 15 game winning streak the Raiders are riding, but Wisconsin are 8 point favorites. The Badgers have way more tournament success and experience than the Raiders and have played much tougher competition.

This game is scheduled to tip off at 9:50 pm ET from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee and can be seen on TBS. Let’s look at all the odds between Colgate and Wisconsin and give you our best bet and prediction for this contest.

Colgate vs Wisconsin Odds

Odds as of March 17th at Caesars Sportsbook. See current Caesars Sportsbook promo codes.

As bettors study each team’s recent form, some might not be pushing Wisconsin through to the 2nd round in their March Madness bracket. The Raiders 15 game winning streak sure does look sweet and lend one to imagine a 3 vs 14 seed upset, but let’s dig a little deeper to analyze which pick makes the most sense.

Colgate Raiders Betting Outlook

You can’t argue with Colgate’s success having not lost a game since January 28th, but in Wisconsin, they are going against a team that ranks 33rd in KenPom overall efficiency, by far the best team they’ve faced this season. Their stiffest competition this year was Vermont, ranked 58th overall, who they lost to 78-68 back in December.

Their strength of schedule rating for the year was 339th in the country, meaning they faced some of the easiest overall competition of any team in the tournament field. The Raiders ran the table in the Patriot League Conference Tournament, taking all three games with relative easy, including a 74-58 win over Navy in the final.

This one we won't forget. #GoGate | #PatriotMBB pic.twitter.com/v2bJIdiTrb

— Colgate Men's Basketball (@ColgateMBB) March 10, 2022

Regardless of the weaker opponents they went against this year, there are a few things Colgate do exceptionally well that must have the public as well as Wisconsin on upset alert, even though they are a +20000 longshot in the Final Four odds.

They shoot the three ball with tremendous efficiency, which is one of the major weapons that is always a threat come tournament time. They are one of only two teams to make 40% or more of their shots from beyond the arc this year, the other being South Dakota State. Senior Oliver Lynch-Daniels is tops in the nation in three point percentage nailing 53.7% of his treys.

🏀 "@colgateuniv is Col-great again!" Make that 3 titles in 4 years for @ColgateMBB!@MarchMadnessMBB | @CBSSportsNet pic.twitter.com/9whSxhCF9T

— Patriot League on ESPN (@PatriotLeagueTV) March 10, 2022

They create those three point opportunities with completely unselfish play, ranking sixth in the nation with 17 assists per game as a team. Their ball distribution creates wide open looks that allowed them to average over 75 points per game this year, 46th in the country, making them a dangerous team to play against.

Wisconsin Badgers Betting Analysis

The Raiders are a threat from long distance, but they don’t have an all out scorer like the Badgers Johnny Davis, who averaged 20 ppg in the regular season, and is currently the second betting favorite in the Wooden Award odds.

Wisconsin AP First-Team All-Americans

Alando Tucker (2007)
Frank Kaminsky (2015)
𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧𝐧𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐬 (𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐)

Well deserved, @JohnnyDavis! pic.twitter.com/bD2R64yeFA

— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) March 15, 2022

Davis struggled through an ankle injury in a disappointing Big Ten Quarterfinal loss to the Spartans, going just 3 of 19 from the field and 0 for 5 on three point attempts. The loss to Michigan State most likely struck a blow to the Badgers odds to win March Madness, where they currently sit outside the top 10 at +6600.

Wisconsin averaged just over 70 points per game this season and don’t make careless mistakes with the ball, which comes in handy in tight closeout games. The Badgers committed the 2nd fewest turnovers of any team in the country. While Wisconsin was 17-14 against the spread this season, they were just 10-12 as a favorite as compared to 7-2 as the underdog.

Colgate vs Wisconsin Prediction

With a full week of rest, Davis’ ankle should be well rested. If he has another performance like the last game against the Spartans, than Colgate has a realistic chance at an upset here. They have a KenPom rating of 119, but Wisconsin lost their last game of the regular season to Nebraska, a team with a KenPom rating of 138.

Colgate had five players who averaged double figures in scoring this season and while the three ball can often be a do or die strategy for some teams, it’s propelled the Raiders to great heights this season. They covered the spread in their three tournament games and have scored 70 or more points in their last five games.

𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐓 𝐏𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐃 🎟

We’re facing Wisconsin in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday!#GoGate pic.twitter.com/K4XZQa31DY

— Colgate Men's Basketball (@ColgateMBB) March 13, 2022

Wisconsin should be able to survive a close one here, but I expect a back and forth affair with a lot of buckets that will come down to the wire between two teams who both combined to average over 70 points per game this year. Go with the over, but if your March Madness betting strategy includes picking a 3 vs 14 upset, be on alert with this game.

The Pick: Over 139.5 (-110)

Other March Madness Content

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1. Loyola Chicago vs Ohio State Odds and Picks (12:15 pm ET)
2. Jacksonville State vs Auburn Picks and Odds (12:40 pm ET)
3. Montana State vs Texas Tech Odds, Lines and Spread (1:45 pm ET)
4. Yale vs Purdue Picks and Odds (2:00 pm ET)
5. Delaware vs Villanova Odds, Lines and Spread (2:45 pm ET)
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7. Notre Dame vs Alabama Picks and Odds (4:15 pm ET)
8. Virginia Tech vs Texas Odds, Lines and Spread (4:30 pm ET)
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First Round Game Previews (Thursday)

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6. Richmond vs Iowa Odds, Lines, and Spread (3:10 pm ET)
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8. Marquette vs UNC Picks and Odds (4:30 pm ET)
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10. Saint Peter’s vs Kentucky Odds and Picks (7:10 pm ET)
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Regional Previews

1. East Region Odds — Baylor Earns Top Seed, Kentucky Favored
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3. South Region Odds: Arizona +110 Favorites, Tennessee & Houston Sleepers
4. West Regional Odds: Gonzaga Odds-On Favorite to Reach Final Four

General

• SBD’s Expert Brackets and March Madness Picks 2022
• March Madness Odds Favor Gonzaga at +350 After Selection Sunday
• March Madness Odds for All First Round Games
• Printable 2022 March Madness Bracket – Make Your Picks for the NCAA Tournament