United Center – Chicago, IL
Big Ten Tournament - Quarterfinals
Tip-off: Friday, 12:00 p.m. ET
Line: Wisconsin -14.0

Michigan looks to upset No. 6 Wisconsin when the teams meet in the Big Ten tournament on Friday.

Michigan faced Illinois in its opening round Big Ten tournament game and the Wolverines came away with a 73-55 win-and-cover. The team has now won both SU and ATS in its past two games. No. 6 Wisconsin, meanwhile, beat Ohio State 72-48 as a 2-point road favorite in its season finale. The Badgers have won three straight games SU since losing to Maryland on Feb. 24, covering in their past two games as well. Wisconsin won the only meeting with Michigan this season, defeating the Wolverines 69-64 in overtime as 10.5-point road favorites on Jan. 24. The Badgers have won four of the past five games in this head-to-head series SU and they’ve covered in three of those games. They are also 8-2 SU and 5-5 ATS in their past 10 meetings with Michigan overall. Michigan is 2-1 SU and 2-0-1 ATS in neutral site games this season. The team was also 10-8 ATS when facing Big Ten opponents this season, but just 8-10 SU in those contests. The Badgers, meanwhile, are 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS when playing on a neutral site this season. They are also 24-3 SU and 15-12 ATS when coming off of a SU win. F Ricky Doyle (Virus) is probable for Michigan and G Derrick Walton Jr. (Ankle) is questionable for the team. The Wolverines are already without G Caris LeVert (Foot) and F D.J. Wilson (Knee) for the season. G Traevon Jackson (Foot) is unlikely to play in the Big Ten tournament, but he could return for the NCAA tournament.

Here is the BetDSI Sportsbook betting preview for this matchup:

Can Wisconsin avoid an upset against a hungry Michigan team on Friday? For the latest college basketball picks, check out The Platinum Sheet for all the StatFox Experts selections every week throughout the entire 2013-14 season. The experts have have stayed hot since Dec. 23, combining for a 54% ATS mark (154-134) in college basketball Best Bets. StatFox Zach is on a 61% ATS (30-19) Best Bets run since Jan. 1 and has a 57% ATS mark (50-37) this season. StatFox Brian is a strong 60% ATS (15-10) in Best Bets since Feb. 6 to put him at 55% ATS (48-39-1) this season, while StatFox Gary has been a profitable 53.4% ATS (31-27) since Dec. 23 to maintain a 56% ATS (49-39) record for the season. StatFox Dave holds a 54% ATS (14-12) mark since Feb. 6 while StatFox Scott has a 53% ATS (30-27) record since Dec. 23.

Michigan has really underperformed all season and they must now win the Big Ten tournament in order to make it to the NCAA tournament. G Zak Irvin (14.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.0 SPG) is going to have to play out of his mind if the Wolverines are going to beat an elite Badgers team. Irvin had 14 points, six boards and six assists in 38 minutes against Illinois. He is a good shooter (35% 3PT) and is capable of filling up the stat sheet. Irvin scored 12 points in 40 minutes of action the last time he faced Wisconsin. He’ll need to be even better this time around. G Spike Albrecht (7.4 PPG, 4.0 APG) will have to do a good job of distributing the ball in this game. He’s averaging 7.3 APG over his past three games and that type of passing will be needed against a stifling Wisconsin defense. G Aubrey Dawkins (6.6 PPG, 2.1 RPG) has been given a huge role for Michigan recently. Dawkins has needed the green light to shoot the ball all season and he finally has it, averaging 23.3 PPG over the past three contests. He is a lights-out shooter (44% 3PT) and will have to get hot in this game. F Max Bielfeldt (5.0 PPG, 3.7 RPG) has been thrown into the fire recently, averaging 12.0 PPG and 7.5 RPG in 31.0 MPG over the past two games. This Michigan team is completely depleted and Bielfeldt will need to be tough on the glass and finish at the rim on Friday. G Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman (4.0 PPG) broke out of his slump on Thursday and finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and two steals in 38 minutes against Illinois. He had nine points the last time he faced Wisconsin and must contribute offensively on Friday.

Wisconsin has one of the most efficient offenses in the nation, scoring 71.7 PPG (74th in NCAA) on 48.0% shooting (22nd in NCAA). The team is also very sound defensively and the leader on both ends is C Frank Kaminsky (18.4 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.6 BPG), who is one of the best players in college basketball. Kaminsky is a lethal player in the post and he can also shoot the outside shot as well as any guard in the nation (41% 3PT). He had 22 points and nine rebounds in 43 minutes the last time he faced the Wolverines and they do not have the size to cover him one-on-one. F Sam Dekker (13.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG) is another guy who will really give the Wolverines trouble. Dekker is playing well lately, averaging 15.0 PPG and 7.0 RPG over the past two contests. He is an explosive athlete and lets the game come to him, rarely forcing anything that isn’t there. He had 15 points the last time he faced Michigan and should be able to play well on Friday. G Josh Gasser (7.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG) is one of the better role players in the nation. Gasser is a very good outside shooter (38% 3PT) and can also lock down his defender when called upon. He should have a big impact in this game. G Bronson Koenig (7.8 PPG, 2.2 APG) had a big game against Ohio State, finishing with 15 points (6-for-11 FG, 3-for-5 3PT) in 36 minutes. Koenig is a very good ball-handler and can knock down outside shots either off the dribble or in catch-and-shoot situations. He’s been very accurate shooting from behind the arc this year (40% 3PT) and will have to play well throughout this tournament for the Badgers. F Nigel Hayes (12.0 PPG, 6.4 RPG) had 10 points and five boards the last time he faced Michigan. He is a monster on the glass but must do better rebounding this time around, as Michigan is lacking players with size at this point in the year.