NCAA Tournament Pick: East Region – Montana vs. Wisconsin – Thursday, March 20, 2025

An exciting first round of college basketball action that you do not want to miss will be between the 14th-seed Montana Grizzlies (25-9) and third-seed Wisconsin Badgers (26-9) on Thursday, March 20 at 1:30 PM ET at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. The Badgers are heavily favored to win with a point spread at -17.5 (-115) at MyBookie.

Montana Grizzlies Betting Preview

The Grizzlies have found success in their last four games. They are coming off a win in the Big Sky Championship over the Northern Colorado Bears in a 91-83 performance.

Montana steadily fought for the lead early and was able to hold onto it for good when they claimed it with about six minutes in the first half. Kai Johnson led in scoring with 23 points on 70.0 percent shooting from the field.

Their offense has been accumulating 76.9 points per game, which puts them at 95th in the nation. Their defense has held opponents to 72.9 points each game, ranking 212th. This point differential does not give them a lot of breathing room, but at least there is a small wedge.

The Grizzlies are 168th overall for their point differential in combination with their strength of schedule. Their efficiency per 100 possessions on offense ranks 65th, while their defense at the same rate ranks 247th.

Wisconsin Badgers Betting Preview

The Badgers just ended their three-game win streak with a 59-53 loss to the Michigan Wolverines in the Big Ten Tournament Final. They are 3-2 in their last five matchups and offer solid momentum coming into this first round matchup.

The Wolverines took control late in the second half to put away the Badgers’ attempts at running away with it. John Blackwell led with 18 points on 35.2 percent shooting from the field.

Wisconsin averages 79.7 points a game, ranking 45th. On defense, they allow opponents to get 70.4 points each matchup and rank 133rd for this effort. This spread is slightly more appealing than what the Grizzlies offer.

The Badgers are 16th overall for their pint differential and strength of schedule combined. On offense per 100 possessions, their efficiency puts them at 29th. Their defensive efficiency at the same rate ranks 111th, which shows they could use some work on this end of the floor if they plan on making a deep run in the tournament.

Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick

Check out the best Montana Grizzlies vs. Wisconsin Badgers betting odds, courtesy of MyBookie, that reveal the Badgers as 17.5-point favorites. Market insights suggest the Badgers have a 94.7 percent chance of winning.

The Grizzlies might be able to make some runs against the Badgers and find a way to get the offense going. However, their defense is what will hurt them here. Look for the Badgers to cover the spread.

Final Pick: Wisconsin Badgers -17.5 (-115)