Colgate Raiders Vs. Wisconsin Badgers Odds, Picks, and Predictions (3/18/22)

By Scott Steinberg | Mar 16, 2022, 6:47pm

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In 2021-22, the Colgate Raiders won the Patriot League regular season and tournament championships, with an overall record of 23-11; 16-2 in conference play. In the Patriot League tournament championship game, Colgate beat Navy 74-58; in three Patriot League tournament games the Raiders won by a combined 54 points. Jack Ferguson the tournament MVP scored a team high 17 points and Nelly Cummings dropped 15 points as Colgate won their 15^th straight game, the third-longest active streak in the country. The Wisconsin Badgers won a share of the Big Ten regular season championship with a conference record of 15-5: 24-7 overall this season. The Badgers the number two seed in the Big Ten tournament were upset by Michigan State, 69-63 in the Quarterfinals. Brad Davison was the high scorer in the game with 23 points. While battling an ankle injury, Johnny Davis, the Big Ten Player of the Year, went 3-19 from the field and missed all five attempts from behind the arc, finishing the game with 11 points and 11 rebounds. His injury will be watched as the Badgers head into the NCAA tournament.

Colgate Raiders Vs. Wisconsin Badgers Betting Odds

Colgate is 1-4 against the spread in their last five Friday games. Over is 4-1 in the Raiders last five games following a straight up win. Under is 4-1 in Colgate’s last five neutral site games. The schools have only faced each other once, with Wisconsin winning 68-41 in 2011. The Badgers are 1-8 against the spread in their last nine games as a favorite. Wisconsin is 1-4 against the spread in their last five games following a straight up loss. Over is 4-0 in Badgers last four NCAA Tournament games.

Colgate Raiders Odds

Colgate listed as a seven-point underdog to Wisconsin, will be making their second straight NCAA tournament appearance; last year they lost 85-68 to Arkansas in the first round. The Raiders were number one in offensive efficiency and number two in defensive efficiency respectively in Patriot League play. Colgate finished second in the country shooting 40.1% from three-point land during the regular season.

Nelly Cummings leads the team in scoring this year averaging 14.5 point per game. The senior guard is averaging 3.4 assists per game and 2.9 rebounds per game. Guard Jack Ferguson is the Raiders second leading scorer averaging 12.6 points per game. He’s also averaging 4.5 rebounds per game and 1.9 assists per game. Tucker Richardson is solid all-around player for Colgate averaging 12.6 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game and 3.9 assists per contest. Keegan Records leads the Raiders in field goal percentage (64.5), rebounds per game (6.1) and blocks per game (1.6). Ryan Moffat is one of five Colgate players to average at least 10 points per contest and shooting 44.7% from behind the three-point line.

Being underdogs to Wisconsin won’t faze Colgate as they scored 100 points earlier in the season in a win at Syracuse. Due to their ability to make three pointers, Colgate could easily pull the upset if their shots are falling.

Wisconsin Badgers Odds

Wisconsin, currently a seven-point favorite over Colgate, heads into the NCAA tournament having lost two straight contests for the first time all season, losing the regular season finale to Nebraska and their opening game of the Big Ten tournament to Michigan State, both by six point or less after starting the season with 15 straight wins in games that close.

The Badgers were predicted to finish 10^th in the Big Ten conference, but instead won a share of the regular season conference crown with 15 Big Ten wins. They had important wins over Houston, Saint Mary’s, Marquette, Ohio State, Iowa, and Purdue (twice); including beating the Boilermakers in Madison to seal up their share of the Big Ten title on a banked in three-pointer by Chucky Hepburn with 1.2 seconds left in the game.

The Badgers are one of the best defensive squads in the country and do not turn the ball over a lot, but the emergence of Johnny Davis seemingly out of nowhere have made Wisconsin dangerous. Davis the Big Ten player of the year and future NBA lottery pick is averaging 19.7 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game in 2021-22. Brad Davison, a tough player who seems like he has been at Wisconsin for 10 years, is averaging 14.5 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game and two assists per contest during his senior season. Forward Tyler Wahl has been a part of the Badgers success this season, averaging 11.4 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game and leading the team in field goal percentage (52.5). This is a club I could see making it to the second weekend of the tournament based on their stifling defense and the superstar abilities of Johnny Davis

Colgate Raiders Vs. Wisconsin Badgers Picks & Prediction

Colgate is averaging 76.1 points per game; 59^th in the country and 17.2 assists per game; 11^th in the nation. Defensively the Raiders are allowing 67.6 points per game. Wisconsin is averaging 71 points per game; 178^thin the nation and 11.1 assists per game; 382^nd in the country. On the defensive end the Badgers are allowing 66.5 points per game. I do like Wisconsin in this tournament game, but I think Colgate will keep it close and the Badgers will not cover the seven points.

March Madness Bracket

Scott Steinberg

Scott has been a sports fan since he received a New York Mets jacket as a toddler. He’s been playing fantasy baseball and football for over 20 years, dating back to Frank Thomas being one of his first fantasy baseball picks. As a professional, he has covered the NFL, MLB, NCAAF, and NCAAB and is looked to as the go-to guy for fantasy sports amongst family, friends, and co-workers.