Wisconsin Badgers vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers Picks, Prediction, Odds and Line Movement for Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Use Code WWWC It’s a Big Ten contest on the hardwood as the Wisconsin Badgers travel to the Land of 10,000 Lakes to battle the Minnesota Golden Gophers Tuesday night and we have you covered with our Wisconsin vs. Minnesota prediction. Wisconsin comes in off 91-88 road win over #2 Michigan in their previous contest, winning outright as an 18.5-point underdog Saturday afternoon. Minnesota was edged 70-69 in overtime at home by USC Saturday, losing outright as a 3.5-point favorite, in their previous contest. In the all-time series between the teams, the Badgers own a 105-98 advantage and have won the last nine meetings, including picking up a 74-67 home win in the most recent matchup March 5, 2025. Read more about this Wisconsin vs. Minnesota prediction! Get our top NCAAB Betting Picks and increase your bankroll!
Wisconsin Tries to Avoid Letdown After Road Upset
Wisconsin won their fourth game in the last five contests as they dropped #2 Michigan on the road in their previous contest. The Badgers improved to 11-5 overall and stand 3-2 in the Big Ten on the season entering this contest. Against Michigan, Wisconsin trailed by as many as 14 in the first half before rallying to cut the lead to one at the half. The Badgers took the lead for good at 85-84 on John Blackwell’s layup with 3:46 remaining and hung on for the victory. Wisconsin shot 50% from the field, including 15 of 33 from three-point range, and hit 18 of 23 free throw attempts in the game. Blackwell led the Badgers with 26 points in the win.
The Badgers are 77th in the nation in scoring offense this season as they are putting up an average of 83.1 points per game. Wisconsin grabs 37.4 rebounds per contest and hands out 15.6 assists per game. The Badgers are 225th in the nation in scoring defense as they allow 75 points a night. Nick Boyd is one of three Badgers averaging in double figures as he averages 19.7 points plus 3.4 assists a night on the season. John Blackwell (18 points, 4.8 rebounds), Austin Rapp (9.4 points) and Nolan Winter (14.3 points, 8.8 rebounds) are good secondary options. Andrew Rohde, Braeden Carrington, Aleksas Bieliauskas, Isaac Gard, Jack Janicki, Will Garlock, Hayden Jones, Jack Robinson and Riccardo Greppi are all called upon for key minutes and contributions for the Badgers. Wisconsin is shooting 45.4% from the floor as a team this season. The Badgers sink 10.3 three-pointers a game (35th) while hitting 33.5% (216th) from beyond the arc. Wisconsin is excellent at the free throw line, converting 76.5% of their attempts at the free throw line this year, putting them 36th in the nation.
Key Injury Report for Wisconsin:
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- Forward Austin Rapp (undisclosed) is doubtful.
Golden Gophers Look to Earn Home Win
Minnesota battled but ended up falling a point short in their loss to USC at home Saturday. The Golden Gophers dropped to 10-6 overall and stand 3-2 in Big Ten action on the year. Against USC, Minnesota trailed by five at the half and by as many as 12 in the second half before rallying to force overtime. In the extra session, the Golden Gophers led 69-68 with 27 seconds to play but couldn’t hang on as Chad Baker-Mazara hit two free throws with 10 seconds to go to wind up with the loss. Minnesota shot 38.7% from the floor, including 12 of 35 from three-point range, and lost the rebounding battle 42-33 in the game. Cade Tyson led the Golden Gophers with 20 points and eight rebounds in the loss.
For the year, Minnesota is 273rd in the nation in scoring offense as they put up an average of 73 points per game. The Golden Gophers collect an average of 35 rebounds per contest while handing out 18.4 assists per game. Minnesota is 27th in the nation in scoring defense as they give up an average of 66.1 points per game. Cade Tyson leads the team in scoring with 21.6 points plus 5.4 rebounds per game. Jaylen Crocker-Johnson (12.6 points, 6.6 rebounds), Langston Reynolds (10.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists) and Isaac Asuma (10.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists) are solid secondary options. Bobby Durkin, Chansey Willis Jr., Robert Valhola, Grayson Grove, Kai Shinholster and Nehemiah Turner have all seen solid minutes so far this season for Niko Medved. Minnesota shoots 45.8% from the field as a team on the year. The Golden Gophers drain an average of 7.8 three-pointers a night while shooting 33.2% from beyond the arc as a team. Minnesota has been well below average at the charity stripe, cashing in 69.1% of their chances so far this season, leaving them 278th in Division I.
Key Injury Report for Minnesota:
- Forward Robert Valhola (undisclosed) is out for the year.
- Guard Chansey Willis Jr. (foot) is out for the year.
Wisconsin vs. Minnesota Pick
Wisconsin vs. Minnesota Spread Pick
- Wisconsin -1.5 (4 units)
This is a prime trap spot for Wisconsin, coming in off a road win over previously unbeaten #2 Michigan, but you have to think that Greg Gard will have his team prepared for that. The Badgers miss Rapp but they are facing a Minnesota team that struggles offensively and is missing a couple key contributors of their own. Medved has an offensively challenged squad that has been good defensively. The problem for the Golden Gophers is that they struggle to shoot the ball at every level, which puts a ton of pressure on them defensively. Minnesota hangs in but Wisconsin escapes with the road win here.
Wisconsin vs. Minnesota Over/Under Pick
- Under 144.5 (4 units)
Wisconsin has seen the over post a 9-7 mark in their 16 games so far this season. The Badgers are 51st in offensive efficiency, 47th in defensive efficiency, 36th in turnover percentage (14.5%) and 17th in allowed offensive rebounding percentage (25.1%) this season. Wisconsin is 61st in adjusted tempo with 70.5 possessions a night. Minnesota comes into this game having stayed under the total in 11 of their 16 games. The Golden Gophers are 58th in defensive efficiency, 76th in effective field goal percentage defense (48.3%), 121st in forced turnover percentage (18.2%) but stand just 278th in free throw shooting. Minnesota is a slow-paced team as they are 348th in tempo with 63.7 possessions per night. The Golden Gophers grind possessions and play tough defense, keeping this game short of the mark.
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