This is a trendy pick everywhere you look and with good reason. The Dukes have won thirteen consecutive games and have an overall record of 31-3. As of early January, Wisconsin looked like a number two seed, and then they fell apart, losing towards the end of the season to the Indiana Hoosiers. the Badgers righted the ship in the Big Ten conference tournament, where they eventually fell to Illinois in a close, hard-fought game. That version of Wisconsin can beat anybody, but in the middle of the season, Badgers were not a good team. The question is, which team will show up in the NCAA Tournament?
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Odds James Madison vs Wisconsin
- Point Spread: Wisconsin -5.5
- Moneyline James Madison +176
- Moneyline Wisconsin -215
- Over/Under 145.5
These odds were updated at 9 pm EST on 03/22/24, coming from Draft Kings.
Our Best Pick: James Madison Moneyline
James Madison dominated Division-I basketball during the regular season, winning 31 games to just three losses.
The Dukes have won 13 consecutive games and already defeated Michigan State earlier this season.
Let me assure you this: the Dukes won’t fear the bright lights.
Mark Byington’s squad takes an aggressive approach to basketball. They force turnovers on 19.8% of defensive possessions, which helps fuel their offensive momentum.
James Madison ranks 55th nationally for offensive efficiency with an effective field goal percentage of 54.4%.
James Madison excels at forcing opponents into tough 3-point shots and has managed to limit 3-point attempts by opponents to just 28% (one of the top three nationally).
Three James Madison starters average 12-plus points, led by Sun Belt POY Terrence Edwards, who averages 17.4 points on 42% shooting and 35% from three. Edwards should make for an intriguing one-on-one matchup against Wisconsin’s AJ Storr. Edwards averages 17.4 points with 42% shooting from three and 35% from two.
TJ Bickerstaff will be JMU’s key contributor in this game; Wisconsin offers plenty of interior length, so the Patriots need Bickerstaff to keep pace on the glass and keep JMU afloat.
Noah Freidel is another double-figure scorer for James Madison and an expert from long range, connecting on 41% of shots from downtown. James Madison’s offense benefits immensely when Freidel hits from beyond the 3-point arc.
Wisconsin was an unlikely NCAA Tournament contender after dropping nine out of 12 regular-season contests from February until the end of regular-season play.
Wisconsin came out swinging at the Big Ten Tournament, knocking off top-ranked Purdue to advance to the conference championship game and earn bragging rights as champions of their conference.
Finding out what makes the Badgers tick isn’t tricky: when their offense performs like one of the best teams in the sport, they become dangerous adversaries; otherwise, they have been known to falter significantly in most games.
What resources does Wisconsin require to run an effective offense?
An outstanding performance from guards AJ Storr and Chucky Hepburn sets the pace.
- JMU 13 straight wins
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Badgers playing well as of late
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JMU balanced scoring
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James Madison vs Wisconsin Moneyline
A money line bet, to me, only makes sense when betting on James Madison; if you want to play it safe, just take the points if you are unsure.
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Over 145.5 is the best bet
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JMU money line great value
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Rebounding
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James Madison vs Wisconsin Over/Under Analysis
The Over/Under is spot on and I would lean towards betting the over, but I would not bet much on it. The money to be made here is betting JMU straight up to win.
- Rebounding will be key
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JMU more complete team
- Wolfpack can shoot
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James Madison vs Wisconsin Spread Analysis
I think James Madison should be favored, because they are the better team, but Wisconsin is from the Big ten
Tip: Bet James Madison to Win
- James Madison is the better team
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No value on betting the Badgers on the money line
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Game will be played in the high 70s
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James Madison vs Wisconsin Player Props
Terrence Edwards Over 15.5 Points (-118)
On Friday, the Dukes will need consistent production from top scorer Terrence Edwards to compete against Wisconsin at an even level. He averaged 17.4 points per game this season while attempting 13.3 field goals per game—both impressive stats.
Edwards takes advantage of his 6’6″ frame to find success at driving to the basket regularly, averaging 9.4 two-point attempts per game against only 3.8 three-point attempts per game from three. That should help him get past the Wisconsin Badger’s defense that encourages their opponents to do just that during this season.
Just 34.4% of Wisconsin Badgers shots this year came from three-point range, ranking 283rd overall in NCAA. Although they made progress at preventing threes, their opponents still posted an overall 55.5 True Shooting Percentage (54th highest) overall. With how well Wisconsin protects the arc, you’re likely to see Edwards driving to the basket often on Friday.
Tip: Bet Terrence Edwards over 15.5 points
- Badgers are a poor defensive team
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Edwards will be the best player on the floor
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James Madison vs Wisconsin Head to Head
This will be the first time the teams have played.
Injuries and Suspensions
James Madison Injury Report
Wisconsin Injury Report
- I. Lindsey- Questionable
- I. Gard- Out
- T. Wahl- Probable
Conclusion
James Madison is 31-3 for a reason: They are a complete consistent team, and the Badgers are inconsistent. Terrence Edwards will score over 20 points, and the Dukes will pull off the upset.
