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Wisconsin vs Penn State Picks and Odds

Daniel Coyle

by Daniel Coyle in College Basketball

Updated Jan 29, 2021 · 7:30 PM PST

Seth Lundy dribbling trying to get around defender
Penn State's Seth Lundy, right, drives the baseline past Ohio State's Kyle Young during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State beat Penn State 83-79. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
  • Penn State Nittany Lions vie for a third straight home win when they host the Wisconsin Badgers Saturday as betting underdogs
  • PSU has won two of three after a five-game slide, while the Badgers look to turn the corner on a middling 3-2 run
  • We’ve got you covered with all the odds and trends ahead of Saturday afternoon’s Big Ten conference matchup at Bryce Jordan Center

The Penn State Nittany Lions will be aiming to extend their current win streak on home hardwood to three games when they host the slumping Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday in the first date in a home-and-home series as 3.5-point underdogs.

The Nittany Lions are coming off a disappointing 83-79 road loss to Ohio State earlier this week, but have seen their two victories in conference play come at home. No. 14 Wisconsin tallied a 61-55 win in Maryland earlier this week, but has posted outright victories in just three of its past five contests.

Here’s a look at all the odds and trends ahead of Saturday afternoon’s Big Ten conference matchup at Bryce Jordan Center.

Wisconsin Badgers vs Penn State Nittany Lions Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total
Wisconsin Badgers -3.5 (-110) -162 O 137.5 (-110)
Penn State Nittany Lions +3.5 (-110) +136 U 137.5 (-110)

*Odds taken at FanDuel on 01/29/2021.

PSU Showing Signs Of A Turnaround

After falling to defeat in each of their first five conference clashes, the Nittany Lions have showed signs of a turnaround over the past two weeks. The club halted their slide with a solid 75-67 win over Rutgers as 2.5-point underdogs last week, and followed up with last weekend’s 81-78 defeat of Northwestern.

The magic ran out in their last outing, as PSU failed to maintain an eight-point lead in the second half in their loss to the Buckeyes. However, the Nittany Lions managed to cover as 7-point road dogs in that contest to improve to 5-3 ATS in their past eight outings while sporting positive odds.

Improved defense has played a key role in Penn State’s recent success. The Nittany Lions have surrendered just 76 points per game over their past three outings after giving up 86 points per game while going 0-4 SU and 1-3 ATS in their previous four games. The club has maintained a steady pace on offense during that stretch, averaging 78.3 points per game, and sit at a surprisingly respectable No. 22 in adjusted offensive efficiency at Kenpom.

Seth Lundy has played a big role in the Nittany Lions’ recent resurgence. The sophomore forward is coming off an impressive 26-point performance against No. 13 Ohio State, and has tallied double-digit point totals in five of his past six outings, including his first double-double of the season in the team’s victory over the Scarlet Knights.

Badgers Try to Shake Off Recent Inconsistency

While PSU battles back to respectability, the Badgers look to rediscover their groove following a rather uneven stretch. Wisconsin tumbled four spots in the AP Top 25 rankings on the heels of a lopsided 74-62 loss to the Buckeyes as 5.5-point home chalk last weekend, but rebounded with a 61-55 win in Maryland on Wednesday.

Overall, the Badgers sport a 7-3 record to remain just 1.5 games back of the idle Michigan Wolverines in the Big Ten standings. However, the club has struggled to generate consistent results at the sportsbooks, going 5-5 ATS in conference play.

However, Wisconsin has been a steady bet when pegged as road favorites by four or fewer points, going 5-1 SU and ATS in six games since the start of the 2018-19 season. The Badgers have played fierce defense during that stretch, limiting opponents to just 58.8 points per game, sparking a 5-1 run for the UNDER in totals betting.

The Badgers have also dominated Penn State in recent years, posting wins in 13 straight regular season meetings, including eight straight victories on the road. Wisconsin has also covered in five of their past six dates with the Nittany Lions, claiming victory by an average margin of 11 points in those contests.

That run put the brakes on an 11-game ATS losing streak against PSU, and has been powered by an impressive Wisconsin defense that has limited the Nittany Lions to 62 or fewer points in each of their past seven matchups.

The Pick: Badgers -3.5 (-110); UNDER 137.5 (-110)

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