Maryland vs Wisconsin Basketball Prediction & Picks: Will the Badgers show their teeth to end the Terps’ perfect start?

After an exciting rivalry win at Marquette on Saturday, Wisconsin will look to pick up another impressive result tonight with undefeated Maryland visiting the Kohl Center.

When they were last at home, the Badgers let things slip away late against Wake Forest in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge last Tuesday.

They threatened to do the same against their in-state rivals on Saturday, with the Golden Eagles riding high after routing Baylor. But after coughing up a 16-point lead in the second half and allowing Marquette to tie it up late in regulation and then again in overtime, they pulled out the win thanks to Max Klesmit’s late basket.

KLUTCH KLESMIT ? @maxkle2 x @BadgerMBB pic.twitter.com/1ZBmlJI4kc

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) December 3, 2022

Now the mission is to follow up an impressive result with another one, with Maryland in town to try to continue a perfect start to Kevin Willard’s tenure.

Will the Badgers be able to stop the Terps’ numerous offensive threats and hold serve at home to open their Big Ten campaign? Our Maryland vs Wisconsin prediction is below, as well as our favorite bets for the matchup.

Maryland Terrapins vs Wisconsin Badgers Matchup Information and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

• Matchup: #13 Maryland Terrapins (8-0) vs Wisconsin Badgers (6-2)
• Venue & Location: Kohl Center (Madison, Wisconsin)
• Date: Tuesday, December 6, 2022
• Game Time: 9:00 pm ET (8:00 pm local time)
• How to Watch Maryland vs Wisconsin: ESPN2

Maryland vs Wisconsin Odds

Game Odds are via BetOnline as of Tuesday, December 6, 2022, at 4:45 pm ET. Odds from our other recommended online sportsbooks may also be mentioned in this article.

Spread

• Maryland +1.5 (-105)
• Wisconsin -1.5 (-115)

Over/Under

• Over 131.5 (-104)
• Under 131.5 (-118)

Moneyline

• Maryland +108
• Wisconsin -130

Can Hepburn Continue to Deliver for the Badgers?

The Marquette win was especially impressive for Wisconsin, given how the Badgers are best when they hold the opposition under 70 points.

They have beaten Shaka Smart’s Golden Eagles in high-scoring games in each of the last two seasons, but since Greg Gard took over as head coach in December 2015, the Badgers are just 21-43 when allowing 70 or more points.

After allowing 78 and 77 points in their lasct two games, will we see things return to normal tonight for the Badgers?

That is their best path to victory, because trying to match and outlast teams offensively yet again might be asking too much for this team.

Maryland has scored at least 71 points in every game thus far, and the Terrapins have four players who average at least 12.6 PPG, in Donta Scott (15.4 PPG, 6.0 RPG) and Jahmir Young (15.1 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.3 APG), Hakim Hart (13.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG), and Julian Reese (12.6 PPG, 7.8 RPG).

Young (24 points, 9-20 FG, 4-9 3PT) and Hakim Hart (17 points, 6-9 FG, 5-6 3PT) led the way in Saturday’s 71-66 win over Illinois, picking up the slack with Scott going only 5 of 13 from the field and Reese being limited to five points in 29 minutes.

Wisconsin don’t have that kind of scoring depth, but they benefitted on Saturday by Chucky Hepburn continuing to fire away.

Since going a combined 3 for 19 from the field and scoring eight points against Dayton and Kansas in Wisconsin’s first two Battle 4 Atlantis games, the sophomore has led the Badgers in scoring in each of their last three games.

Last Three Games for Chucky Hepburn

• vs USC: 17 points, 7-13 FG, 3-5 3PT, 0-1 FT
• vs Wake Forest: 23 points, 7-18 FG, 6-12 3PT, 3-4 FT
• at Marquette: 19 points, 7-10 FG, 5-6 3PT

After making 3 of 5 from three in the season opener against South Dakota, Hepburn made just 2 of 12 from outside in his next four games.

Hepburn won’t keep shooting over 60 percent from three like he has in his last three games, but if the Badgers are going to win tonight and make some noise in the Big Ten this season, he will need to shoot and score at a high volume.

Maryland vs Wisconsin Prediction and Picks

Maryland vs Wisconsin Prediction: Wisconsin to win

Maryland vs Wisconsin Picks: Wisconsin ML (Best Value: -125 at Bovada Sportsbook, BetUS & BetMGM) & Maryland team total under (Best Value: under 65.5 @ -110 at BetUS)

For all of the scoring that they have done in their last two games, the Badgers don’t want to get in the habit of trying to write checks that they can’t cash on a frequent basis.

They failed to get the job done defensively down the stretch against Wake Forest and survived doing the same in overtime against Marquette thanks to Klesmit’s clutch shot, but Maryland’s going to win if they score 75+ tonight.

Fortunately for Wisconsin, I don’t see that being the case. What the Terps are doing so far this season is certainly impressive, but they haven’t faced a test like they will tonight in Madison.

They will end up better for it, but it will come at the cost of their first loss under Willard. The Kohl Center has chewed up and spit out a lot of good teams over the years, and it will do so again tonight.

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