Game Time: 9:50 PM  ET, Friday, March 18th, 2022

Venue: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Where to Watch:  TBS

 

DraftKings Sportsbook:  Wisconsin -8; O/U 139.5

Caesars:  Spread:  NL

VegasInsider:  Spread:  NL

FanDuel: Spread:  Wisconsin -7.5; O/U 139

Colgate: 23-11 on the season, Champs of the Patriot League, #14 Seed in tournament

Wisconsin: 24-7 on the season, Big Ten,  #3 Seed in tournament.

An NCAA matchup of who? And a big school.... Colgate is a #14 Seed and Wisconsin is a #3 Seed.  They both took separate paths to get here.  Colgate was fantastic in the second half of the season after a rough start.  They also have been an OK betting opportunity with 17-15-1 ATS.

Colgate won the Patriot League Championship.  The Raiders were the best team in the Patriot League by far.   They dominated while winning Patriot League Tournament games by an average of 38.6 ppg.  This was not the expected outcome… Colgate started the season 4-10 before going on a 16-1 run in their last 17 games.  Leading scorer 6’0 PG Nelly Cummings brings 14.6 ppg with 3 rpg and 3.4 apg.   The low assists numbers show their weakness… a little too much hero ball from the point guard.  I get it… I really do.  Point Guards are the best things in sports and if you want the pro leagues to notice you you have to decide between being focused on scoring or focused on winning basketball.  Hopefully he realizes for the tournament that he can sacrifice 4 ppg if he can bring those assists up to 5!  People may mention that 6’5 Tucker Carlson is actually playing the point and actually leading the team in assists… That is fugazzi.  Tucker at 3.9 apg should not be waiting for the scoring punch of Nelly… Nelly needs to take over a point guard mindset so Tucker can use his size and body as a rotating front court to backcourt guard. 6’10 Forward Keegan Records is their de facto Center.  He gets rebounds and blocks 1.6 shots per game…. Keegan is about to be eaten alive by the more active frontline of the Badgers.

The Wisconsin Badgers are not chumps by any means.  As a betting opportunity they went 17-14 ATS this season.  They could dupe you however since they went 1-8 ATS over their last 9 games. They have won 7 of their last ten games.  They went 5-5 ATS during that stretch.  Wisconsin has the man that will be all the difference in the game.  6’5 guard Jonathan Davis… He is 20 ppg, 8.1 rpg, and 2.2 apg.  The sophomore is a real pro prospect if he performs well under the brightest lights.  The Badgers have a history of graduating guys to the NBA… and Jonathan Davis is one of those guys.  Where and when will be decided entirely by his dominance in this tournament! 6’9 forward Tyler Wahl is a do-it-all type of player, chipping in 11 points, 5.8 rebounds, but the focus is defense by contributing steals and blocks.  We will not see Tyler Wahl in the NBA, but we will see him in the pros if you happen to have tickets to Italian League games a year or two from now… Still… those are exactly the guys that determine the outcome of the tournament.  

Al McMordie was 0-2 in the NBA yesterday, and is 78-52 his last 130. Big Al was 28-19-1 in the Conference Tourneys, and was 4-0-1 in last year's NIT. Here, pick up Big Al's Tuesday NIT Tourney Winner out of a super 18-2 ATS angle. Pick it up right now, and HIT IT HARD! Don't miss out! Get Big Al’s pick!!  It's available right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers. Also don’t miss Monday’s picks!!  All your NCAA basketball needs for the entire college basketball season!  All your needs in any sport for that matter!   

Colgate is 23-11 on the season, but 17-15-1 ATS.  They have logged 16 Overs and 17 Unders.  They have not yet played on a neutral court.

The Wisconsin Badgers are 24-7 on the season, but 17-14 ATS.  They have notched 19 Overs and 12 Unders.  They are 3-1 on neutral courts.  

Colgate is 70th in scoring with 75.3 ppg, 91st in rebounds with 33.7 per game, and 17th in AST/TO ratio with 1.5. On defense they are pretty good with a 134th rating while holding opponents to 67.6 ppg.  The Badgers are unfortunately not one of those teams.

Wisconsin is 178th in scoring with 71 ppg , 168th in rebounds with 32.3 per game, and 49th in AST/To ratio with 1.3.  On defense they are 98th with 66.5 ppg. 

 

Our prediction for Friday, March 18th is… Wisconsin 74 - Colgate 69

A win ATS for Colgate if the spread stays at +7.5.  Colgate will lose the game.  They have little choice in the matter.  Colgate has heart, but not enough players in the plus statistical category.

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Colgate has lost their last 4 first round NCAA Tournament games.

Wisconsin is 1-0 SY but 0-1 ATS versus Colgate since 1997.

Colgate is 5-1 ATS after two wins by 15 points or more this season.

Wisconsin is 12-6 ATS after 3 consecutive conference games this season.

Colgate: No Injuries To Report.

Wisconsin: G Lourne Bowman II (ill) Quest, but most likely Out since he hardly contributes.

Colgate: Nelly Cummings, Ryan Moffatt, Jack Feguson, Keegan Records, Tucker Richardson

Wisconsin: Jonathan Davis, Tyler Wahl, Steven Crowl, Chucky Hepburn, Brad Davison

Colgate

Points: Nelly Cummings 14.5

Assists: Tucker Richardson 3.9

Rebounds: Keegan Records 6.1

Steals: Tucker Richardson 1.4

Blocks: Keegan Records 1.6

Wisconsin

Points: Jonathan Davis 19.7

Assists: Chucky ZHZepburn 2.3

Rebounds: Jonathan Davis 8.2

Steals: Tyler Wahl 1.2

Blocks: 0.8