College Basketball Picks: Wisconsin Badgers vs. Baylor Bears

The Wisconsin Badgers are 3-0 against the spread as neutral-court favorites of 3.5 to six points this season, which is important to consider when making your college basketball picks Thursday, as they prepare to take on the Baylor Bears at the Honda Center.

Sports bettors will find that the Badgers are 3.5-point favorites in the NCAA basketball odds, with the betting total sitting at 137 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at this Sweet 16 matchup from a betting perspective, while offering up a prediction along the way.

Gambling stats courtesy of SBR Forum

Wisconsin Badgers

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The Wisconsin Badgers have advanced to the Sweet 16 for the sixth time in the Bo Ryan era, picking up wins over American University and Oregon last week.

Over the last two-plus seasons, the Badgers are 4-2 straight up and 5-1 against the spread in NCAA tournament games. 

Baylor Bears

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The Baylor Bears have compiled a 27-9 straight-up record in postseason tournament games over the last six seasons, including wins over the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Creighton Bluejays last week.

College basketball handicappers will find that the Bears are 17-15-1 against the spread as an underdog since the start of the 2011-12 campaign. 

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers back the Wisconsin Badgers as one of their Sweet 16 picks, as they've covered the number in seven of their last eight games versus Big 12 Conference opponents.

Pick: Wisconsin Badgers -3.5

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