NCAA Basketball Betting - Wisconsin Badgers at Virginia Tech Hokies

The Wisconsin Badgers (5-1 SU, 2-3 ATS) will once again be looking to slow the pace as they engage in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge on Monday night against the Hokies of Virginia Tech (4-2 SU, 2-2 ATS) in the first meeting between these teams, set for 7 PM ET at the Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, VA.

BetUS NCAA Basketball Sports Betting Odds: VIRGINIA TECH -3, Total 122

Here are some of the NCAA basketball sports betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* WISC has won 17 of its last 19 games SU

* WISC has covered four of its last five road games

* WISC has won six of its last seven road games SU

* WISC has played four of its last six road games OVER the total

* VT has won 11 of its last 16 games SU

* VT has won 10 of its last 11 home games SU

Wisconsin did not do very well in this particular pre-season event last year. The Badgers went to Durham and were slapped around by Duke, suffering an ignominious 82-58 defeat. Wisconsin beat Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Saturday, but they were coming from an engagement at the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands. In that tourney, were very successful in winning a slowdown showdown against San Diego, hitting almost 49% of their shots in a 64-49 victory, but faltered in their next encounter, with just one player in double figures (Keaton Nankvil) as they were thrashed by 19 points against Haseem Thabeet and U-Conn.

Do we know what to expect from this Badger team? Well, to some extent we do. Bo Ryan, like many of the Wisconsin coaches before him, emphasizes deliberate play and fundamentals, which an accent on defense. Against teams that are inexperienced, and not overwhelmingly athletic, that can be a winning formula.

Virginia Tech may have had some "bad" experience in Puerto Rico. The Hokies lost a one-point heartbreaker to Xavier, then dropped a four-point decision to Seton Hall. Shooting has been a problem in the early going, as VT hit only 39% in those Puerto Rico games and is under 42% for the season. Only a 56% performance against outmanned Fairfield on November 20 makes their statistics even look respectable. More consistent efforts from the bulky freshman, Victor Davila, would help Virginia Tech a great deal, but Davila went scoreless in a combined 30 minutes against Xavier and Seton Hall. That's not good, since he represents this team's muscle and something of an equalizer against a team that can defend out on the perimeter.

Wisconsin plays enough defense and has enough experience to hang tight here and pull the "upset" over a Hokie team that will find itself prone to mistakes (14.2 turnovers a game). Let's take the Badgers, plus the points, in the BetUS NCAA college basketball sports betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: WISCONSIN +3 **

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

(Charles Jay of http://www.ebookies.com makes his share of shots from downtown as a contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)