Wisconsin vs. Maryland Odds
| Wisconsin Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4.5 -102 | 124.5 -110o / -110u | +172 |
| Maryland Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4.5 -120 | 124.5 -110o / -110u | -210 |
Wisconsin and Maryland both have their work cut out for them if they want to continue to improve their resumes before March.
Wisconsin started its 2022-23 season by winning 11 of its first 13 games, including victories over Dayton, USC, Marquette, Iowa and Maryland. Since then, the Badgers have lost four of their last five, including a three-game losing streak to Illinois, Michigan State and Indiana.
On the other side, Maryland has had a roller coaster start to the Big Ten season. The Terps have managed to knock off Ohio State and Michigan, but have dropped games to Rutgers, Iowa and Purdue all on the road.
To pick which team will improve their resume on Wednesday night, let's take a look at the odds and make a prediction for Wisconsin vs. Maryland.
Wisconsin Badgers
Outside of a three-game losing streak at the beginning of January, Wisconsin has had a relatively successful season.
This three-game losing streak was defined by the absence of leading scorer Tyler Wahl, who is crucial to the Badgers' success on both ends of the floor.
Wahl is used on 30.4% of possessions, the 35th-highest rate in the country.
Tyler Wahl is back tonight.
And how about this And-1? 👀@tjwahl01 x @BadgerMBBpic.twitter.com/a8E1t5398J
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) January 18, 2023
With Wahl back in the lineup, Wisconsin will look to return the form it had when it defeated Maryland, 64-59, on Dec. 6 in Madison.
Overall, the Badgers are at their best when they are connecting from long range. Wisconsin scores 38.7% of its points from 3-point range, the 16th-highest rate in the country.
This level of production from beyond the arc is a result of shooting 41.4% of their total field goals from distance.
This reliance on outside shooting is important to note as Wisconsin faces off against a Maryland team that has been great at defending the perimeter.
The Terps only allow 25.3% of their points from the 3-point line, as a result of allowing their opponents to shoot just 31.8% of their shots from this range, the 36th-lowest rate in the country.
Defensively, Maryland has shown its biggest vulnerability comes against teams with an ability to attack the interior.
Unfortunately for Wisconsin, this is an area in which it only scores 47% of its points, which is well below the national average of 50.9%.
Offensively, Wisconsin will need to tweak its approach to find success against a revenge-minded Maryland squad.
Maryland Terrapins
Although the Terps are one of the most experienced teams in the country, they have still struggled to find consistency, particularly offensively.
This lack of consistency can be attributed to their poor shooting ability from beyond the 3-point line. Maryland ranks 327th in 3-point percentage, shooting just 30.1% per game.
Although these numbers are poor, the Terps are bound for some progression on their home floor against a Wisconsin team not known for their perimeter defense.
The Badgers are allowing teams to shoot 36.4% of their shots from 3-point range, which is in line with the Division I average.
In order to make up for this poor perimeter shooting, Maryland uses its pressure and rebounding ability to create extra possessions. The Terps rank inside the top 115 in both offensive turnover percentage and rebounding percentage, resulting in multiple extra possessions per contest.
This will be important against a Wisconsin team striving to dictate tempo. The Badgers rank 345th in Adjusted Tempo, averaging just 63.1 possessions per game.
Given what Maryland is able to do on the defensive end, I believe these extra possessions — along with improved outside shooting — are the recipe to even the season series with the Badgers.
Wisconsin vs. Maryland Betting Pick
This is a unique matchup between two teams that have shown signs of weaknesses and strengths at multiple different points this season.
Overall, I believe this is a great spot to back a Maryland team looking for revenge on its home floor. The Terps are 9-1 at home, with their only loss coming to No. 8 UCLA.
Look for Maryland to get yet another home victory through their ability to limit Wisconsin on the perimeter and create crucial extra possessions on the glass.
Pick: Maryland -5.5 (Play to -6) |
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