Nicholls State vs. Wisconsin Prediction and Odds: Back Colonels to Cover in Madison

The Wisconsin Badgers look to get back on track after getting beat up in conference play last week. The Badgers dropped out of the AP Top 25 after a loss at home to No. 15 Ohio State. Wisconsin dropped to 8-2 and currently sits in fifth place in the Big Ten. Luckily for them, a stretch of three-games against non-conference opponents starts tonight against the Nicholls State Colonels in Madison, Wis.

The Colonels out of the Southland Conference come off three straight wins and have a 7-3 overall record. However, the Colonels are the defending SWAC champions and aren’t going to be as easy of a win as the odds might suggest. Nicholls State plays at a very high pace that can trip teams up if they aren’t prepared. Their losses this season came to No. 1 Baylor, TCU, and Utah Valley; two of which are very good teams. They did lose to Baylor by 29 points but the Bears are a far better team than the Badgers.

Here are the odds for this matchup, courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook.

Nicholls State vs. Wisconsin Odds, Spread and Total

Spread:

• Nicholls State +19 (-110)
• Wisconsin -19 (-110)

Moneyline:

• Nicholls State +1125
• Wisconsin -2050

Total: 134.5 (Over -110/Under -110)

Nicholls State vs. Wisconsin Prediction and Pick

Ty Gordon is the offensive leader for Nicholls State with an average of 19.1 points per game. But, Gordon has stepped up his game recently and is averaging more than 20 PPG in the Colonels' last three games. The team has only 92 three-pointers on the year and Goron has 31 of them. To say that he is the lynchpin of this offense would be an understatement. 

On the other side of the court, Johnny Davis is the man at Wisconsin. He is putting up 20.9 PPG, 6.1 boards, and 2.3 dimes per game. Between him and Brad Davidson, the pair are the two primary weapons for Wisconsin. 

This game I think will surprise some people. I don’t have much faith that the Colonels can win, but I think this game isn’t going to the blowout that the spread suggests. Nicholls State has an offense playing well and I can’t say the same for Wisconsin. They have struggled recently and could be thrown off by the rapid pace the Colonels play. The Badgers defense will earn them the win here but it won’t be a cakewalk. 

Pick: Nicholls State +19 (-110)