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Wisconsin vs. Montana Prediction, Odds & Preview Today: NCAA Tournament First Round Best Bets

Mike Spector

Last Updated: March 20, 2025 11:31 AM EDT • 4 min 47 sec read.

Wisconsin vs. Montana Prediction, Odds & Preview Today: March Madness First Round Best Bets
Pictured: Wisconsin Badgers head coach Greg Gard, guard John Blackwell (25) and guard Kamari McGee (4) talk during a pause in play. Photo by Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images.

The No. 14 seed Montana Grizzlies (25-9) have a tall task ahead of them today against the No. 3 seed Wisconsin Badgers (26-9). Tipoff will be at 1:30 p.m. ET (TNT), and we're breaking down this NCAA Tournament first-round East Region matchup with our Wisconsin vs. Montana predictions, odds, and preview.

The Badgers are anywhere from 16.5 to 17-point betting favorites to win this opening-round matchup at Ball Arena in Denver, and we believe in their interior defense’s ability to limit Te’Jon Sawyer as part of our best March Madness predictions.

🏀 Wisconsin vs. Montana prediction & picks today

Here are my best Wisconsin vs. Montana predictions for the first round of the NCAA Tournament; use our parlay calculator to get the best odds for any same-game parlay:

✅ Against the spread pick: Wisconsin -16.5 (-115 via BetMGM) vs. Montana ⭐⭐
🔥 Best player prop bet: Te’Jon Sawyer Under 8.5 points (-110 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐
🎯 Exact score prediction: Wisconsin 85, Montana 65 (+19000 via DraftKings)

👉 Want more picks? Check out our latest college basketball picks and the rest of our March Madness first-round predictions.

🤖 See our March Madness AI bracket predictions for every game through Monday, April 7

🔢 Wisconsin vs. Montana updated betting action 

  • 62% of bets are on Montana to cover (+16.5)
  • 57% of the bets are on the Over (152.5)
  • The total opened at 148.5 and has since increased to 152.5
  • Wisconsin opened as 16.5-point betting favorites, which is where they remain as of Thursday at 8:40 am ET

🏆 Best Wisconsin vs. Montana pick, player prop bet & score prediction

Our NEW college basketball player prop odds tool can help you find the best odds for any March Madness market across legal sportsbooks in your area!

✅ Wisconsin to cover the spread: -16.5 ⭐⭐

Montana is shooting 50.2% from the floor this season, second-best in D-I. The Grizzlies rank in the 91st percentile in rim rate, 97th percentile in finishing efficiency, and get 51.8% of their points from 2-pointers.

However, Wisconsin’s drop coverage allows a rim rate in the first percentile. Thus, Montana will have to connect from deep more often than it is used to. Based on their non-conference schedule that involved games against Oregon, Tennessee, and Utah State, the Grizzlies will not be up to the task from a shooting perspective.

In those three games against NCAA Tournament teams, Montana made just 18-of-68 from 3-point range (26.5%). But I am only making Wisconsin -16.5 a two-star play, as it is not as used to playing in altitude like its opponent.

📊 Best odds: -115 via BetMGM ($10 to win $8.70)

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🔥 Te’Jon Sawyer Under 8.5 points ⭐⭐⭐

Grizzlies forward Te’Jon Sawyer ranks sixth on the team in scoring, averaging 9.2 points per game. Montana’s five leading scorers all are guards, and that is who is going to have to carry the scoring load against Wisconsin’s strong interior defense.

Wisconsin ranks 34th in the country (second in Big Ten play) in 2-point percentage allowed. Sawyer followed up a five-game stretch of posting double figures by not topping nine points in any of the three conference tournament games.

Sawyer scored just six points in each of the two games against NCAA Tournament teams (he did not play against Utah State), and that has me confident in the Badgers’ ability to negate his scoring potential. The best price is at BetMGM, as the Under is juiced as high as -118 at Caesars.

📊 Best odds: -110 via BetMGM ($10 to win $9.09)

🎯 Score prediction: Wisconsin 85, Montana 65

Montana ended the season with 14 wins in its last 15 games but lost its three games against NCAA Tournament competition by an average of 26 points. Thus, I am backing the Badgers to cover their first NCAA Tournament game since 2021 (0-3 ATS in that span) with a predicted final score of Wisconsin 85, Montana 65.

📊 Best odds: +19000 via DraftKings ($10 to win $1900)

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🤖 Wisconsin vs. Montana AI prediction

For entertainment purposes, we asked ChatGPT to analyze historical trends and live NCAA Tournament stats before predicting the winner and exact score for Wisconsin vs. Montana. Our AI prediction projects a final score of Wisconsin 71, Montana 62.

🖥️ AI score prediction: Wisconsin 71, Montana 62

  • Wisconsin has been a consistent presence in the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers reached the Sweet 16 in 2021 and have made the tournament in almost every season for the past two decades.
  • The Grizzlies prefer to control the pace, slowing the game down and taking high-percentage shots. This could be an advantage in keeping high-powered offenses at bay.
  • Both teams excel defensively, but Wisconsin’s size, experience, and ability to defend without fouling give it a crucial edge. Montana will struggle to break down Wisconsin’s disciplined defense for consistent offense.

🤔 Betting takeaway: ChatGPT's AI prediction would mean Montana covering the spread (+16.5) and a total of Under 151.5 points. ChatGPT is not a dedicated sports betting model, but it can identify data that March Madness bettors might overlook.

📊 Live Wisconsin vs. Montana odds

Follow the latest live March Madness college basketball odds and real-time NCAA Tournament scores for the first round.

Latest Wisconsin vs. Montana odds

Our updated Wisconsin vs. Montana odds are via BetMGM.

Spread

Wisconsin (-16.5) is a heavy betting favorite over Montana. That spread has held steady since the opening line, and the odds are equal at -110 on either side.

Total

The Over/Under of 152.5 ahead of tipoff is well up from the opening line. There's juice on the Over at -115.

Moneyline

Wisconsin is a -2000 moneyline favorite, representing a 95% implied win probability for the Badgers.

🔢 Wisconsin vs. Montana opening odds

  • Spread: Wisconsin -16.5 (-110) | Montana +16.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Wisconsin -1600 | Montana +900
  • Over/Under: Over 148.5 (-110) | Under 148.5 (-110)

📅 Check out the full March Madness first-round schedule and opening odds.

🔮 East Region expert picks

📺 How to watch Wisconsin vs. Montana

📅 Date: Thursday, March 20
🕗 Time: 1:30 p.m. ET
📍 Location: Ball Arena (Denver)
📺 TV: TNT
💻 Streaming: March Madness Live

💰 March Madness betting odds pages

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Written By:
Mike Spector
Mike started in the sports writing industry in July 2019, and gained a lot of followers in his first year after finishing with the No. 2 overall record in an annual NFL betting competition, which made picks against the spread, and from an Over/Under and moneyline perspective. Mike is an avid fan of the NFL, MLB, tennis, and all college sports. In his opinion, March Madness is the best sporting event there is, and he's especially euphoric starting with conference tournament time in college basketball. Mike's a big advocate of "fading the public" and making plays that are contrarian, constantly citing that "there are reasons why they have those big shiny buildings in Las Vegas." When making wagers, Mike always scours the best odds at all of the major sports betting sites, where he mostly sifts through DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and bet365. He's tried several others and is of the firm belief that bettors should not just stick to one sportsbook, as there is always likely better value to be had with the same wager. In addition, while Mike received his undergraduate degree from Villanova University, he has no issue betting against the Wildcats when it comes to college basketball wagering, and suggests other bettors should always put their “head” before their “hearts.”