March Madness R1: James Madison vs Wisconsin Odds & Score
Dukes With Nation's Longest Winning Streak

James Madison vs Wisconsin Final Score
Dukes vs Badgers Odds Analysis
James Madison will bring its 13-game winning streak into its South Region matchup with Wisconsin on Friday. The No. 12 seed Dukes are 31-3 on the season after starting the year 14-0. The Badgers are 22-13 on the year and needed a few wins in the Big Ten Tournament to get here.
The Badgers played a much tougher NCAA basketball schedule and have a huge edge in strength of schedule. KenPom has Wisconsin with the third toughest schedule in the country. James Madison’s schedule was ranked No. 293. The James Madison vs Wisconsin odds see the Badgers favored by 5.5 points and the total on the game is 145.
Dukes vs Badgers 
Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Day/Time:
Streaming: CBS
JMU a Well-Rounded Team
James Madison is a decent team, although its schedule leaves it open to just how good they are. The Dukes defeated Michigan State to open the season, but also have a a bad loss to Southern Miss on the books and a pair of defeats to Appalachian State. James Madison is 19-14 against the spread this season and 16-16-1 in totals. The Dukes don’t really have any major trend advantages in this game. JMU is 4-1 ATS in neutral court games, but the Badgers are 5-1, making it a wash.
The Dukes are good enough offensively, ranking No. 56 in the KenPom efficiency ratings. James Madison isn’t a good foul shooting team, but that’s really the only knock. The Dukes can shoot the ball and do a good job grabbing offensive rebounds and not making turnovers. JMU shoots 36.4% on 3-pointers but really doesn’t attempt that many per game.
The Dukes are No. 2 in the nation in 3-point defense, allowing just 28.6%. James Madison does have a few weaker areas, such as sending teams to the foul line, but overall the defense is solid. Teams do have more success getting the ball against the James Madison defense.
Badgers Slow Things Down
Wisconsin has some nice wins during the season, such as upsetting Purdue in the Big Ten tournament, but they also have a few ugly losses. The Badgers are 17-18 against the spread, but 23-12 in totals this year. Wisconsin is 11-12 ATS as a favorite of the year.
The Badger offense is pretty solid. Wisconsin isn’t a great shooting team, but does the other things well. The Badgers are No. 13 in the Ken Pom efficiency ratings. The Badgers can grab some offensive rebounds and don’t turn the ball over much. Wisconsin does get some shots blocked, although there aren’t many weaknesses for the team when it has the ball.
The Badgers are horrible defending the 3-pointer, ranking No. 345 in the country, but that’s really the only knock against the team’s defense. Wisconsin doesn’t allow many offensive rebounds and the 2-point defense is pretty average. The Badgers’ struggles defending the 3-pointer have them ranked No. 275 in effective field goal percentage.
What to Expect
James Madison plays at a little quicker tempo than the average team. The Dukes don’t run the ball up-and-down the court, but they’re not deliberate, either. You have to believe JMU is going to put up some 3-pointers here. That could be their best opportunity to join the other first round March Madness winners.
The Badgers have a bit of a height advantage, so they will likely look to get the ball inside. Wisconsin has to grab every edge it can get since this won’t be an easy game.
Who to Bet On?
The James Madison vs Wisconsin odds are pretty much where you would expect. The Badgers are the better team, but JMU has a shooter’s chance to pull the upset. The No. 5 vs No. 12 games have seen their share of surprise winners over the years. James Madison has a slight experience edge, although the Dukes are making just their second NCAA Tournament appearance in 40 years.
The James Madison vs Wisconsin odds on the total are a bit unpredictable. If the Dukes can hit some 3-pointers, there is a good chance the game lands over the number. You can say that about most games, however. The Badgers can’t match James Madison from the outside, but they can get the ball inside and get a few easy baskets.
This isn’t the easiest of games to use for your college basketball picks today. If JMU gets a few baskets and hangs with the Badgers at the start, it can make a game of it. The Dukes don’t want to have to play from behind, so a good start is crucial. From a value standpoint, it’s a little bit easier to make a case for James Madison, so take JMU +5.5 to keep this one close enough to cover the point spread.
Dukes vs Badgers Game Odds
For NCAAB picks, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
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