The No. 12 High Point Panthers (30-4) vs. the No. 5 Wisconsin Badgers (24-10) could be a prime spot for an upset in today’s first-round action, tipping off at 1:50 p.m. ET on TBS.
According to PrizePicks Team Picks, Wisconsin is an 8.5-point favorite on Thursday, March 19. This is one of three 5-12 matchups in the first round with a spread under 10.0 points. Will this be the collision to deliver chaos?
Below, we’ll break down our High Point vs. Wisconsin prediction on the spread for today’s college basketball projections on PrizePicks Team Picks, where you can earn money with your picks in 35 states.
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High Point vs. Wisconsin Prediction, Spread, Over/Under
High Point joined the Division I level in the 1999-00 season and is still chasing its first NCAA Tournament win. The Panthers earned their first tournament berth in the 2024-25 season but lost 75-63 as a No. 13 seed vs. Purdue.
For the second consecutive season, High Point did not face a high-major program before the NCAA Tournament. In a major step up in competition, can the Panthers play spoiler for Thursday’s CBB picks in their first meeting with Wisconsin?
High Point is riding a 14-game winning streak but is only 7-7 against the spread (ATS) in this split. The Badgers are 7-3 outright and ATS over their last 10 games.
High Point vs. Wisconsin Spread, Over/Under
Wisconsin is favored by 8.5 points with a 1.2x payout if it wins, per PrizePicks Team Picks, where you can earn money with your picks in 35 states.
According to PrizePicks Team Picks, High Point features a 4.54x payout with an outright win today.
- Spread: Wisconsin Badgers -8.5
- Over/Under: 162.5
- Gamer Winner Payout: High Point 4.54x | Wisconsin 1.2x
Team Picks data is live at the time of writing and is subject to change.
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High Point vs. Wisconsin Prediction on Spread for NCAA Tournament – 3/19/26
If a mid-major is to pull off an upset in NCAA Tournament brackets, it usually needs to lean on a strong unit. High Point has just that by ranking 74th in Bart Torvik’s adjusted offensive efficiency, paired with 86.5 PPG (97th percentile) and a 54.7% effective field goal percentage (87th percentile).
Wisconsin also features an exceptional offense, ranked eighth in adjusted efficiency while posting 83.0 PPG (93rd percentile). As today’s 162.5 over/under on PrizePicks Team Picks suggests, this could be a fun, quick-paced, high-scoring affair.
However, will this favor the Panthers in pulling off an upset? This is playing right into the Badgers identity, which ranks in the 71st percentile for the quickest adjusted tempos. High Point sits in the 85th percentile for the category, further fueling a quick pace.
There’s a clear gap between the two defenses, as Wisconsin (49th) holds a much better mark than the Panthers (148th) in adjusted defensive efficiency. Keep in mind the Badgers posted this in a loaded Big Ten, while High Point didn’t face one high-major program.
According to EvanMiya, High Point G Rob Martin (-0.09) and G Conrad Martinez (-0.03) carry alarming Defensive Bayesian Performance Ratings (DBPR). Wisconsin G Nick Boyd (20.6 PPG) and G John Blackwell (19.0 PPG) are the highest-volume scorers in this matchup.
The Panthers may lack the tools to slow the star duo. PrizePicks forecasts Boyd for 22.5 points, while Blackwell sports a 19.5 projection.
Make High Point vs. Wisconsin Picks on PrizePicks
The 5-12 matchup is one of the most trendy picks in NCAA Tournament bracket strategies. But does High Point have the chops to pull off the upset? The Panthers defense may need to excel vs. an elite Wisconsin backcourt.
Make your High Point vs. Wisconsin picks and NCAA Tournament predictions at PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks, where you can earn real-money rewards for your predictions if you’re right.
Just choose players, predict More or Less on their projected stats, and follow the hoops action to see if your picks hit. You can make picks on winners, spreads, and over/unders on Team Picks, now available in 35 states.
Keep tabs on the Playbook for continued college basketball predictions, picks, and news all the way through the NCAA Tournament.
