Horizon League rivals tip-off conference play against one another when the Milwaukee Panthers visit the Green Bay Phoenix at 8 p.m. ET at the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It is one of 26 NCAA basketball games today, with a mix of conference and a few strong non-conference games on the slate.
With teams playing league games earlier in their NCAAB schedule, it is imperative that they find a rhythm and chemistry early in their seasons, so they are as good as possible when the games start counting toward the college basketball standings.
These two college basketball teams enter with very different starts to their seasons. The Panthers are 5-3 after a strong home slate, while the home team is looking to record a win in the Green Bay Phoenix standings, and when is a better time than the opening of conference play?
Milwaukee vs Green Bay betting odds shows the Panthers are 5.5-point favorites on the road. The NCAAB odds show the over/under is 135 points. The moneyline favors Milwaukee at -275, while Green Bay is +200 to win outright.
Last Game Records
Milwaukee dominated Southeast Missouri State in the first half en route to an 84-68 victory on Monday. The Panthers held the Redhawks to 35% shooting and 29% from the 3-point line while out rebounding them 40-25. The Panther hit 51% of their shots and 40% of 3-pointers. BJ Freeman led the way with 23 points.
Green Bay could not overcome an early deficit in a 78-64 loss to Illinois-Chicago on Saturday in its home opener. The Phoenix shot 39% from the field and 17% from the 3-point line while turning the ball over 14 times. Brock Heffner scored 19 points to lead Green Bay’s effort. The Flames converted 53% of their shots against the Phoenix.
Matchup Information
Milwaukee Panthers vs. Green Bay Phoenix Betting Analysis
A Milwaukee Panthers prediction seems to be the likely winner for Milwaukee vs Green Bay betting, but we’ll dive into the numbers. In the last six games in the series, the road team is 5-1 against the spread. That includes four straight Milwaukee wins.
Green Bay and Milwaukee had traded off who won prior to the Milwaukee winning streak. The under has also hit in the last four games after reaching as high as 141.5 and as low as 130.5 in their finale last season.
This season the Panthers are 4-2 against the spread and 3-3 on over/under. They are 0-1 straight up on the road this season.
The Phoenix are 0-6 straight up, 1-5 against the spread, and 4-2 on over/unders this season. This will be their second game in Green Bay this season, losing the opener.
Milwaukee Panthers Content
The Panthers got bad news on the college basketball injury report when they learned guard Jordan Ratliffe would be out for the season with a knee injury. After losing their first two games since that news to Iowa State and St. Thomas (Minnesota), the Panthers have won three straight games.
They rank in the top third in the nation both offensively and defensively. The Panthers are scoring 78.8 points per game to rank 73rd nationally. Their offensive efficiency is strong, converting 48.4% of shots, which ranks 55th, and 36.8% of 3-pointers, which ranks 78th.
Defensively, they allow 63.9 points per game, which ranks 80th. They are one of the best NCAA basketball teams in defensive efficiency. They hold teams to 37% shooting from the field, which ranks 26th nationally, and 26.7% on 3-pointers, which ranks 30th nationally.
Rebounding has been a strong point, too, as the Panthers grab 36.5 per contest, ranking 52nd, but allow 30.5 per game, which is 160th nationally.
Freeman is the only player averaging more than 10 points per game at 13.0. There are eight Panthers who average at least 7.4 points per game and play at least 14.3 minutes per game. Two more average 10 minutes per game. Depth is not an issue for the Panthers.
Green Bay Phoenix Content
Will Ryan is in his third season as Green Bay basketball coach, and it hasn’t gone well at the start of this season. The Phoenix have suffered six straight losses to open the season and have lost by an average of 20.8 points per game. The closest was an 11-point loss at Wisconsin on Nov. 15.
The Phoenix are one of the worst teams in the country. Offensively they rank 360th in scoring 56.8 points per game. They are 330th with a field goal conversion rate of 39.8% and 355th with a 3-point percentage of 26.4%.
They are 333rd defensively in, allowing 77.7 points per game. Teams convert 50.3% of field goals, ranking 357th defensively, and 40.2% of 3-pointers, ranking 353rd defensively.
Green Bay grabs 23.5 rebounds per game – not a typo – which ranks 362nd nationally. They allow 34.3 per game, ranking 316th nationally.
It’s a team that needs upgrades because they don’t have good college basketball players. In fact, not a single player is averaging double figures. Zae Blake leads the way averaging 9.8 points per game and 1.8 steals per game.
Heffner’s 19 points last time out brought him up to 6.7 points per game for the season. Davin Zeigler is the top rebounder at 3.8 rebounds per game.
Updates
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Milwaukee Panthers vs. Green Bay Phoenix Betting Preview
The Panthers have only been favored in one game this season and covered with ease. They were favored by two points in their last game against Southeast Missouri State. This is the second time Green Bay is an underdog of 5 to 7 points, losing that game against the spread.
They have four other results as larger underdogs that they have failed to cover as well, and one that they did cover – against Wisconsin.
In its lone home game, Green Bay saw the total go over in its last game. The Panthers are 0-2 on over/unders when on the road and 1-1 for night games. Green Bay is 2-2 on over/unders at night.
Milwaukee Panthers vs. Green Bay Phoenix Betting Prediction
Milwaukee vs Green Bay betting numbers shows 65% of public bets are on the Panthers while 56% are on the under. It seems as though Milwaukee’s -5.5 could be teased a few points, given how terrible the Phoenix have been this season. That is worth looking into, though the talent gap may be as close as it has been for the Phoenix.
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