The NFL season might be over but there's still plenty of sports to watch on Sunday afternoons with college basketball betting action heating up as we head towards March Madness.
This Sunday is headlined by a battle between two of the best in the Big Ten as the Michigan Wolverines lock horns with the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center.
We break down the college basketball odds with our best free Michigan vs. Wisconsin picks and predictions for Sunday, February 14, with tipoff at 1 p.m. ET.
Michigan Wolverines at Wisconsin Badgers betting preview
Key injuries
Michigan: None to report.
Wisconsin: Ben Carlson F (Out), Walt McGrory G (Out).
Find our latest NCAA basketball injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Badgers are 1-4 ATS in their last five games against teams with a winning percentage above .600. Find more NCAA betting trends for Michigan vs. Wisconsin.
NCAAB sharp money and line movement report
By Patrick EversonWisconsin opened a 1-point favorite at PointsBet USA, and the first move jumped the fence to Michigan -1 Saturday night and then to -1.5 this morning. As of noon ET, the line is back to the opener of Badgers -1. "Eighty percent of tickets and 72 percent of handle on the Wolverines," PointsBet's Patrick Eichner said of point-spread action, while noting that there's a $42,000 bet on Wisconsin moneyline -115. The total opened 131.5, topped out at 134.5 this morning and is now 133. "Sixty-six percent of bets on the Over, but 51 percent of handle on the Under, including some sharp play at 133.5."
Check out the full line movement for this gameMoneyline pick
These teams met up just over a month ago with the Wolverines stomping the Badgers by 23 points in Ann Arbor.
It should be a closer battle this time around, with Wisconsin at home and Michigan playing for the first time in three weeks due to COVID-19 precautions.
That said, the Badgers have looked shaky in recent games, alternating wins and losses over their last six contests. They suffered defeats to Illinois, Penn State and Ohio State during that span, with each loss coming by double digits.
The Wolverines might be a tad rusty but they're still red hot, sitting at 13-1 SU on the season and going 7-1 ATS in their last eight games.
In a lot of areas, these squads are very similar: They both have plenty of experience and depth in their lineups, hit their free throws at an impressive clip, and play terrific defense. UM ranks 31st in the country in defensive efficiency, holding foes to 91.2 points per 100 possessions, while Wisconsin is just two spots behind them at 91.3.
However, the Wolverines have the edge on the offensive end of the floor—and on the boards. Michigan shoots an impressive 50.9 percent from the field, good for fifth in the nation, while Wisconsin ranks just 196th with a field goal percentage of 43.2.
The Wolverines also rank 12th in rebounding rate while Wisconsin ranks 183rd. Expect those factors to make the difference in this contest and back Michigan to win.
PREDICTION: Michigan ML (-115)
Over/Under pick
Both of these squads play suffocating defense, with the Badgers holding foes to just 62.4 points per game and the Wolverines allowing 65.4.
While the Wolverines typically shoot very well from the floor, playing on the road and having such a long layoff since their last game could mean a slower start for their top scorers Hunter Dickinson and Isaiah Livers.
Meanwhile, the Badgers have struggled to put the ball in the hoop lately, averaging just 63.2 ppg over their last nine contests and they shot just 31 percent from the field in that previous matchup against Michigan.
Both squads also play at a very slow pace, with the Wolverines ranking 217th in the country in adjusted tempo, according to KenPom, and the Badgers ranking 322nd.
The Under is 6-2-1 in the Badgers' last nine games against teams with a winning record, while the Wolverines have gone 6-1-1 to the Under in their previous eight contests against winning teams. With the Under also going 6-2-1 in the last nine meetings between these Big Ten foes, back it again.
PREDICTION: Under 133.5 (-110)
Michigan vs Wisconsin betting card
- Michigan ML (-115)
- Under 133.5 (-110)
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Where can I bet on college basketball?
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