Wisconsin Badgers Host Montana State Bobcats in Highly Anticipated College Basketball Matchup

The Wisconsin Badgers, fresh from their season-opening 85-61 victory over Holy Cross, are set to face the Montana State Bobcats on Thursday, November 7, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. This matchup marks the second game of the Badgers’ 2024-25 non-conference schedule and the season opener for Montana State[3][4].

Wisconsin, led by new transfer John Tonje, is looking to build on their strong start. Tonje impressed in his Badger debut with 23 points, five rebounds, and one assist against Holy Cross. He is predicted to be a key player again, with some analysts suggesting he could score 30 or more points against Montana State[2].

The Badgers also showcased their free-throw shooting prowess in their opener, going a perfect 16-for-16 from the charity stripe. This consistency is expected to continue, given the team’s history of strong free-throw shooting, with players like Tonje, Blackwell, and Klesmit boasting career free-throw percentages of 80% or better[2].

Montana State, despite being the underdog with a 16.5-point spread against them, brings a veteran-led team with 12 of their 13 scholarship players being juniors or seniors. Key players Tyler Patterson, Brian Goracke, and Brandon Walker are expected to be significant contributors. Walker, who averaged 13.1 points per game last season, is hoping to overcome conditioning issues that affected him last year.

The game is scheduled to tip off at 8:00 p.m. ET and will be available to watch on BTN Plus and through online streaming services like Fubo. The over/under is set at 146 points, and Wisconsin is favored to win, but Montana State is predicted to keep the game competitive and potentially cover the spread[3][5].