Annually one of the most confounding teams in the country is Wisconsin. Even though Bo Ryan can X and O with the best in college basketball, a look at the preseason roster never screams of Top 25 talent. Yet here the Badgers are, in second place the Big T

2010-01-29

Annually one of the most confounding teams in the country is Wisconsin. Even though Bo Ryan can X and O with the best in college basketball, a look at the preseason roster never screams of Top 25 talent. Yet here the Badgers are, in second place the Big Ten Conference with a 6-2 record. On Thursday night, they’ll look for a season sweep of Purdue, a team that had owned them prior to the win in Madison a few weeks ago. Purdue is an 8-point favorite at Sportsbook.com, and being backed by most bettors.

Wisconsin (16-4, 10-8 ATS) leans heavy on guard Trevon Hughes, with versatile forward Jon Leuer out three to four more weeks with broken wrist. Wisconsin is 7-3 ATS vs. teams like Purdue allowing 64 or less points a game this season.

Last week, the Boilermakers (16-3, 9-10 ATS) broke their three-game losing skid at Illinois 84-78, getting a lift from unlikely source. John Hart, who had played all of 33 minutes and wasn’t even in official score book for that game, came off the bench to score 14 points (12 in second half) to lead the Purdue charge. Coach Matt Painter hopes this leads to continual production off the bench. Purdue is 15-7 ATS in home games after a conference game over the last three seasons.

Wisconsin has seen guard Jordan Taylor rise to the occasion with the absence of Leuer, scoring and displaying all around floor game. This could be a challenging spot the Badgers; since they are 4-9-1 ATS in road games vs. teams with a winning home record.

Purdue is still jittery home favorite, sporting a 9-1 SU but .500 spread record. The win at Champaign was followed up with a first half mauling of Michigan, 43-27, but they let backers down in the second half by being outscored by six points and failing to cover the 13-point spread.

The Boilers have normally blasted the Badgers at home and are on 8-1 SU and ATS run against them, which is why Sportsbook.com has them as 8-point favorites. Purdue is 9-2 when playing with three or more days rest, nonetheless is vile 3-8 ATS with this much time to practice.

Wisconsin took the earlier meeting 73-66 at the Kohl Center as one-point home underdogs and has covered six of its last seven Thursday throw-downs.

This Big Ten battle is in the 7:00 Eastern Time slot on ESPN with total of 126 and the Badgers are 1-10 UNDER on the road. Purdue is 6-2 OVER on Thursday nights.

The StatFox Power Line shows Purdue by 4, indicating a possible over-pricing.

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