<p>Two teams trying to track down NCAA tournament bids meet when Wisconsin hosts Northwestern for a Big 10 battle Sunday evening in Madison. Both these teams started great this season, but both are experiencing some turbulence as of late. And both need more wins before they’ll receive tickets to the Big Dance.</p>
<p>The Wildcats just beat the Badgers in a close game two weeks ago.</p>
<p>Who do we like for our free Northwestern/Wisconsin pick?</p>
<h2>College Basketball Betting Odds </h2>
<p>Sunday’s CBB betting lines opened Wisconsin as a three-point favorite over Northwestern, with an over/under of right around 124. Both figures were holding steady in the early betting action but have now risen to -3.5 and 125.5, respectively.</p>
<p>According to Sagarin’s CBB ratings at USAToday.com the Badgers should be favored by 2.5 points for this match-up.</p>
<h2>College Basketball Betting Preview </h2>
<p>Northwestern lugs a two-game losing skid into Sunday after falling at home to Michigan Thursday night 68-51. The Wildcats led the Wolverines 26-25 at the half and by three points early in the second half. But Northwestern scored just four points over the next ten minutes to fall behind by double-digits and could not recover.</p>
<p>NW shot just 38 percent from the field Thursday, hit just 3/19 from 3-point range, and got out-rebounded 41-33.</p>
<p>Two games ago, the Wildcats allowed Iowa to shoot 56 percent from the floor and lost 86-70.</p>
<p>Going back a month, Northwestern is only 3-4, both SU and ATS its last seven times out.</p>
<p>Wisconsin, meanwhile, just snapped a three-game losing skid with a much-needed 65-60 victory at Ohio State Thursday night. The Badgers, playing as seven-point underdogs, scored the first eight points of the game and never trailed. Wisconsin went up by double-digits late in the first half, led 43-27 into the locker room, and by 18 early in the second half. The Badgers then allowed the Buckeyes to get within 62-60 with 30 seconds left but held on for the W.</p>
<p>Wisconsin only shot 42 percent from the floor Thursday, hit just 13/22 from the free-throw line, and got out-rebounded 45-26. But the Badgers won the turnover battle 16-8.</p>
<p>Two games ago, Wisconsin shot just 33 percent from the field and lost at home to Illinois 61-51. Three games ago, the Badgers shot 40 percent and lost to Maryland 73-55. And four games ago, they shot 39 percent and lost at Northwestern 66-63.</p>
<p>Going back a bit Wisconsin, which started so well this season, is just 2-6 SU, 1-7 ATS over its last eight games.</p>
<p>Big-picture, at 15-7 and 13-8, respectively, neither the Wildcats nor the Badgers are shoo-ins to make the NCAA tournament yet.</p>
<h2>Northwestern-Wisconsin Recent History </h2>
<p>The Badgers beat the Wildcats seven times in a row from 2018 through last season, but Northwestern won the first meeting between these teams this season two weeks ago in Evanston 66-63. That game was tied at 62-62 with two minutes to go, but the Wildcats scored the next four points and held on.</p>
<p>Northwestern hit 16/18 from the line that night, while Wisconsin hit just 9/16.</p>
<p>Also, that game played Over a total of 124.</p>
<h2>College Basketball Betting Trends </h2>
<p>Wisconsin is 6-1-1 ATS over the last eight meetings with Northwestern.</p>
<h2>Totals Report </h2>
<p>The Unders are 12-10 in Wildcats games this season and are averaging 131 total points.</p>
<p>The Overs are 11-10 in Badgers games this season, averaging 128 points.</p>