Wisconsin vs. Ohio State Prediction: Can Wisconsin Get Going Early in Big 10 Tournament?
Wisconsin vs. Ohio State Prediction: Can Wisconsin Get Going Early in Big 10 Tournament?
Wisconsin and Ohio State meet in the first round of the Big 10 tournament, with both teams having underwhelming seasons. Sill, Wisocnsin's tournament life is on the line, as they are currently in the first four out according to the ESPN bracketology.
A few wins in the conference tournament will go a long way to etch their name on an at-large bid. Ohio State's only path to the tournament is winning the conference tournament, which certainly will not happen. Interestingly enough, Ohio State is the slight favorite. Let's get into my pick for tonight.
Wisconsin vs. Ohio State Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds
- Date: Wednesday, March 8, 2023
- Start Time: 6:30 pm ET
- Where to Watch: CBS Sports
Click here for Wisconsin vs. Ohio State odds
Wisconsin vs. Ohio State Prediction
The Buckeyes have been without Zed Key for the past 5 games, who was their offensive facilitator after he sustained a season-ending injury. Ohio State was 3-14 in the conference near the end of the season, but they were able to close out their season with two wins in their last three games, beating Illinois and Maryland at home.
Wisconsin has had an inconsistent season, with their inability to win back-to-back games since January 3rd. However, the Badgers have had more marquee wins than Ohio State, and they have demonstrated their ability to perform better away from home than the Buckeyes have.
Ohio State's Bruce Thornton is a freshman who has added 10.0 PPG from the perimeter for the Buckeyes, while Justice Sueing, a 6'6 senior, adds 12.0 PPG with a strong midrange game. Aside from Sensabaugh, who leads the lead with 16.5 PPG, the Buckeyes will need other players to step up in Key's absence. Sensabaugh and Sueing were named and given honorable mention status on the Big Ten postseason awards, while Sensabaugh also made the Big Ten All-Freshman team.
Ohio State's offense is ranked 22nd in efficiency, while their defense is ranked 122nd. On the other hand, Wisconsin is ranked 72nd overall by KenPom, and 12th in the Big Ten. The Badgers rank 141st in adjusted offensive efficiency and 26th in defensive efficiency. Still, despite the worse net rankings and worse efficiency ratings, they are listed in the "First four out" section of Joe Lunardi's Bracketology.
Wisconsin finished the season winning only two of their last five games, but they were able to beat bottom-feeding Minnesota in their last game, led by Steven Crowl and Tyler Wahl, who both had 21 points and 7 rebounds. The Badgers have a balanced scoring attack with four players averaging between 11.3 and 12.2 PPG. Chucky Hepburn, a 6'2 sophomore, leads the team in scoring and assists with 12.2 PPG and 2.9 APG. Connor Essegian, a 6'4 freshman guard, has hit a few more threes than Hepburn (64 for Essegian, 59 for Hepburn), and averages 11.9 PPG. Tyler Wahl, a 6'9 senior forward, is getting 11.3 PPG and 6.3 RPG, while Steven Crowl, a 7'0 245-pound center, leads the team in rebounds with 7.1 per game and adds 11.6 PPG. Chucky Hepburn was given an honorable mention spot in the Big Ten postseason awards, and Connor Essegian made the All-Freshman team.
Wisconsin won by five points at Ohio State earlier this season, and this game is being played at a neutral site. The Badgers have the talent and experience to win this game, but they need to be consistent throughout the game. If the Badgers can get off to a good start, they should be able to control the game and come out with the win. A good start is key here, as Wisconsin has been a first-half team all season. With such a sketchy line, I think Ohio State may be able to sneak out a second-half win, but I like Wisconsin to start this game strong and have a half-time lead.
Wisconsin vs. Ohio State Pick
- Wisconsin First Half +.5 @ -110 (Bet $100 to collect $191) Get the best odds, available at FanDuel
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Article Author
Ben Rajavuori is a handicapper out of Minneapolis, MN. He has been creating sports content for almost four years now and is an expert in all things NFL, MLB, NBA, UFC, and NCAAB. Ben thrives on diving deep into statistics to find the best angle on every bet. You can follow him on Twitter @WeBeatTheSpread.