Northwestern at Wisconsin College Basketball Picks & Predictions 2/1/2018

Thursday, February 1, 2018

Kohl Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Northwestern Wildcats travel to Kohl Center to play the Wisconsin Badgers on Thursday, February 1, 2018. The opening line for this game has Wisconsin as 2.5 point favorites.

Northwestern comes into this game with an overall record of 13-10. They currently have a point differential of 5.1 as they are averaging 71.8 points per game while giving up 66.7 per contest. Wisconsin has an overall record of 10-13. They are averaging 67.8 points per game and surrendering 66.6, good for a point differential of 1.2.

Valuable Northwestern Wildcats Betting Trends

The Northwestern Wildcats are 8-12 against the spread this season

The Northwestern Wildcats are 7-12 against the over/under this year

Important Wisconsin Badgers Betting Trends

The Wisconsin Badgers are 7-13 against the spread this season

The Wisconsin Badgers are 10-9 against the over/under this year

Key Northwestern Wildcats Injuries

12/11/17 F Rapolas Ivanauskas Shoulder is out for season

Key Wisconsin Badgers Injuries

12/11/17 G Kobe King Knee is out for season
01/29/18 G D'Mitrik Trice Foot is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Scottie Lindsey averages 14 points per game while playing 30.4 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.8 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 54% while his free throw percentage is at 82%. Bryant McIntosh averages 12.7 points per game in 32.6 minutes per contest this season. He averages 5.5 assists per contest and 2.6 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 39% for the year while his free throw percentage is 86%.

Player Spotlight

Ethan Happ averages 17.5 points per game while playing 30.1 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 8.6 rebounds per game and has 3.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 54% and his free throw percentage is at 55%. Brad Davison averages 11.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 29.7 minutes per contest. He also averages 2.3 rebounds per contest and 2.3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage is 80%.

Useful Team Statistics

Northwestern averages 71.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 239th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 5.1 and their shooting percentage is 43% as a team, which has them ranked 261st. Behind the arc they shoot 35%, which is good for 185th in the country. They average 34.1 rebounds per game and 14.8 assists per game, which ranks them 260th and 111th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 289th with 12.0 per game. The Wildcats allow 66.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 53rd in Division 1. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 208th and 242nd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 32.4 rebounds a game which ranks 68th and they give up 13.7 assists per contest, which puts them in 205th place in college basketball. They force 13.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 197th in the nation.

Useful Team Statistics

Wisconsin is 304th in the country with 67.8 points per game this year. They are 133rd in D-1 in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 1.2. They shoot 34% from 3-point range, which is good for 257th in college basketball. They are 336th in the nation in rebounding with 31.5 boards per game, and 243rd in assists per contest with 12.7. The Badgers are 305th in turnovers per game with 11.7. The Badgers surrender 66.6 points per contest, which ranks them 50th in the country. Their defense allows a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 286th and 239th in those defensive statistics. They rank 93rd with 12.2 assists allowed per contest and 11th with 30.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Badgers are 38th in Division 1 in forcing turnovers with 11.5 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Wildcats are 141st in the nation in offensive rating with 105.8, and their defensive rating of 98.3 is ranked 95th. In terms of pace they are 292nd in the country with 67.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 225th. As a team they are 213th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shots, ranking 112th in Division 1. Northwestern is 262nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 18.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 196th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Wisconsin is 219th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.9 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 240th in the nation. The Badgers are 181st in the country in offensive rating with 104.4, and their defensive rating of 102.6 is ranked 201st. In terms of pace they are 346th in Division 1 with 64.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 167th. As a team they are 182nd in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 217th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Northwestern/Wisconsin college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Wisconsin -2.5

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Josh Schonwald