Wisconsin, the No. 5 seed from the South Region, will have its hands full when it takes on 12th-seeded James Madison on Friday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
The Badgers (22-13, 11-9 Big Ten) are just 6-9 in their past 15 games but did win three times in four days to advance to the Big Ten Championship.
The Dukes (31-3, 15-3 Sun Belt) are one of the highest scoring teams in the country, averaging more than 84 points per game. JMU has won 13 games in a row and lost its three games by just 20 points combined.
This’ll be the nightcap of the four-game slate in Brooklyn on Friday, and the winner will meet Duke or Vermont. Here’s a look at how to bet on the game and what offers new bettors can cash in on to build their sports-betting bankrolls for March Madness.
No. 5 Wisconsin vs No. 12 James Madison Odds
Odds current as of March 21.
- Spread: Wisconsin -5 (-112, DraftKings) • James Madison +5.5 (-110, BetMGM)
- Moneyline: Wisconsin (-215, FanDuel) • James Madison (+195, bet365)
- Total: Over 145 (-110, bet365) • Under 145.5 (-114, FanDuel)
The Dukes are a clear underdog, which makes them a good wager to consider when unlocking a new-user promo.
And if you’re looking for a new-player offer to attempt, look no further than bet365 Sportsbook, which gives players one of two promos to choose from with bonus code LWOSBONUS.
- 🐱Bet $5, Get $150
- 🐘$1,000 First Bet Safety Net
If you choose the Bet $5, Get $150 offer, you can unlock $150 in bonus bets when you deposit $10+ and make a first wager of at least $5.
Or if you’re willing to dial up the risk a bit, choose a First Bet Safety Net up to $1,000. Deposit at least $10 then wager between $5-$1,000, and if that wager fails you’ll get it reimbursed as a bonus-bet token.
Bonus bets expire within seven days. Bet and get bonus requires minimum -500 odds.
Wisconsin vs James Madison Prediction
The Dukes are dangerous, and the Big Ten has a history of falling flat in the tournament. JMU has already knocked off a Big Ten opponent, Michigan State, which it did in its season opener — though the Badgers swept the Spartans in the regular season too.
Still, the Dukes were 10th in the nation in points per game (84.4) and allowed fewer than 70 points per game. They’re 26th in the nation in field-goal percentage (.480) and 46th in 3-point percentage (.365) and were 71st in KenPom’s Adjusted Tempo metric, accruing about 70 possessions per 40 minutes.
Even though the Badgers rate at a top-20 team per KenPom’s metrics, they rank 309th out of 362 teams in possessions per 40 via KenPom and only score about 75 points per game. Plus, their defense has really struggled during this skid since the Badgers are allowing 74 points per game, up from their season average of 69.9.
Wisconsin vs James Madison Best Bet
JMU +5.5 at bet365 Sportsbook (-110)
I’ve already sprinkled the Dukes to win (+195 at bet365), but wagering on them to stay within six points is a must. JMU has stayed within six points of its opponent in 32 of its 33 games, and the Badgers have failed to cover six points in three of their past eight games.
The Dukes are a tough matchup, led by Sun Belt player of the year Terrence Edwards who can load up the stat sheet with points, rebounds and assists. Plus, you can bet the crowd — which will be mostly made up of Duke supporters, since the Blue Devils play the first game in Brooklyn — will get behind JMU if it is in the game.
