Wisconsin’s 11-game winning streak will be on the line tonight as the third-ranked Badgers (15-1, 1-0 Big Ten) host the fifth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (13-2, 2-0) at 9 p.m. (EST) in the Kohl Center in Madison Wisconsin. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN.
Tonight’s game is just the second men’s basketball game this season between two teams ranked in the top five. It will mark the second time in school history that Wisconsin is involved in a game featuring two teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 10.
The Buckeyes, coincidentally, were involved in the other top-five matchup back on December 23, when then-No. 3 Ohio State lost at then-No. 5 Florida, 86-60. Ohio State is 0-2 against ranked opponents this season.
Tonight’s game will pit Wisconsin veteran Alando Tucker against Buckeye’s freshman Greg Oden. Tucker, the Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year, is averaging 20.2 points per game and is leading the Big 10. Oden is averaging 14.4 points, 9.5 rebounds and nearly four blocks per game.
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Tucker scored 27 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in a 78-73 Wisconsin victory against the Buckeyes last year in Madison. The Badgers have won eight of 10 meetings against the Buckeyes under coach Bo Ryan and are 39-2 under Ryan at home in Big Ten play. Those two losses in conference home games are the fewest of any team in a BCS conference.
Ohio State is looking for its first 3-0 start in Big Ten play since 1991. The Buckeyes beat Indiana at home in their opener before handing Illinois its worst home loss in 30 years last weekend. Wisconsin beat Minnesota, 68-45, in its conference opener Saturday in Madison.
The Badgers are favored across the offshsore board by a -4 ½ point chalk. The game total is set at 134 ½ at most offshore sportsbooks.
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Wisconsin is on a four game streak covering for backers against the spread. The UNDER has also cashed in five of the last six games the Badgers played.
Ohio State has failed to cover the line in three of its last five games with the UNDER winning in three of the last five the Buckeyes played.
