by Chuck Sommers
Saturday, Jan 08, 2022
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: XFINITY Center, College Park, MD
Where to watch: BTN
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: NL
BetMGM: NL
Caesars: NL
Season record
No. 23 Wisconsin: 12-2 (3-1 Big Ten)
Maryland: 8-6 (0-3 Big Ten)
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Wisconsin - Maryland preview and analysis
Recent form
Wisconsin: won four straight; won 87-78 vs. Iowa on Thursday
Maryland: lost 76-64 at Illinois on Thursday
The Wisconsin Badgers will try to win their fifth straight game on Sunday when they face the Maryland Terrapins in College Park.
Wisconsin is off to a 3-1 start in Big Ten play, while Maryland has dropped all three of its conference games to start en route to an 8-6 start. The No. 23 Badgers are likely seeing a bump in the top-25 given how this game will go.
The Badgers are coming off a 9-point win over the Iowa Hawkeyes three days after they upset No. 3 Purdue on the road. Wisconsin returned home and put together an incredible offensive performance from the starting five; all five starters hit double figures led by Johnny Davis' team-high 27 points to go with nine rebounds and five assists.
Brad Davison had 18 points and seven rebounds, while Tyler Wahl was one rebound from a double-double of 16 points to go with nine rebounds.
The Wisconsin Badgers will try to win their fifth straight game on Sunday when they face the Maryland Terrapins in College Park.
Wisconsin is off to a 3-1 start in Big Ten play, while Maryland has dropped all three of its conference games to start en route to an 8-6 start. The No. 23 Badgers are likely seeing a bump in the top-25 given how this game will go.
The Badgers are coming off a 9-point win over the Iowa Hawkeyes three days after they upset No. 3 Purdue on the road. Wisconsin returned home and put together an incredible offensive performance from the starting five; all five starters hit double figures led by Johnny Davis' team-high 27 points to go with nine rebounds and five assists.
Brad Davison had 18 points and seven rebounds, while Tyler Wahl was one rebound from a double-double of 16 points to go with nine rebounds.
"We've got a lot of guys who bring a lot of different things to the able," Wahl said.
Balance is certainly one of them. The Badgers always tend to be one of the more balanced squads in the country, which makes them so dangerous come March. We're seeing that once again now that Wisconsin is pulling off wins against top-5 teams.
The Terps, meanwhile, have cooled off after a big win against the Florida Gators back on Dec. 12. They return home for the first time in conference play after losing 76-64 to Illinois on Thursday. Donta Scott led Maryland with 17 points and was one of many tasked with trying to slow down Illinois big man Kofi Cockburn, who finished with 23 points and 18 rebounds.
Balance is certainly one of them. The Badgers always tend to be one of the more balanced squads in the country, which makes them so dangerous come March. We're seeing that once again now that Wisconsin is pulling off wins against top-5 teams.
The Terps, meanwhile, have cooled off after a big win against the Florida Gators back on Dec. 12. They return home for the first time in conference play after losing 76-64 to Illinois on Thursday. Donta Scott led Maryland with 17 points and was one of many tasked with trying to slow down Illinois big man Kofi Cockburn, who finished with 23 points and 18 rebounds.
Prediction
This just comes down to talent, and there's clearly a discrepancy when it comes to Wisconsin and Maryland. The Terps being back at home should make up for some deficiencies they've shown over the past few games, but Wisconsin is just too deep and too good to think they can't make this a blowout by about 20. Wisconsin by 20
Betting trends
Wisconsin is 14-4 ATS in its last 18 following two or more straight overs.
Wisconsin is 12-3 ATS since 1997 following a home game in which both teams scored 75 points or more.
Maryland is 5-1 ATS in its last six following losses to conference rivals.
Projected starting lineup
Wisconsin:
PG: Chucky Hepburn
SG: Brad Davison
SF: Johnny Davis
PF: Tyler Wahl
C: Steven Crowl
SF: Johnny Davis
PF: Tyler Wahl
C: Steven Crowl
Maryland:
PG: Fatts Russell
SG: Eric Ayala
SF: Hakim Hart
PF: Donta Scott
C: Qudus Wahab
SF: Hakim Hart
PF: Donta Scott
C: Qudus Wahab
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
