Indiana vs. Ohio State: NCAA Basketball Picks

Sportsbooks opened with OSU favored by -12.5 points and the total at 142.5. While the spread remains unchanged, the total has risen to 143.5 at most NCAA basketball betting shops.

When it comes to making my NCAA basketball picks on this matchup, I have decided to play on the spread. Lets determine which one of these teams has the greatest chance of pulling through for us tonight.

This is the first all Top 10 matchup for Indiana (15-2 SU, 8-4 ATS) since 2002, however, the Hoosiers will likely drop out of the upper echelon of the rankings after Thursday’s stunning 77-74 home loss to Minnesota. Austin Hollins had a career-high 18 points as the Gophers held on for their first conference win of the year. Minnesota riddled Indiana’s defense for 50 percent shooting while making 6 of 17 from beyond the arc. Cody Zeller finished with 23 points and eight rebounds to lead Indiana which went just 4-for-18 from 3-point range in failing to cover the sports betting lines as a -9.5 point favorite.

Ohio State (15-3 SU, 7-6 ATS) can expect to take a tumble in the national rankings after Tuesday’s 79-74 loss at Illinois as an -8.5 point favorite. Brandon Paul erupted for 43 points helping the Fighting Illini snap a five-game losing streak to the Buckeyes. Illinois burned the OSU defense shooting 60 percent overall and 61 percent from 3-point range (11 of 18) with Paul hitting 8 of 10 from beyond the arc.

The Buckeyes have the third longest home win streak in the country at 35. Kentucky (45) and Duke (43) lead the nation.  

Buckeye balance

Ohio State ranks second in scoring offense (77.8 ppg.) and scoring defense (56.2 ppg.). Its margin of 21.6 ppg leads the league while its .494 field goal shooting percentage is second. The Buckeyes are also second in the league in offensive rebounding offense (37.3 rpg) and No. 1 in rebounding defense (28.9 rpg).

Indiana is 50.1 percent from the field, 45.9 percent from 3-point range and 73.8 percent from the free throw line. The Hoosiers lead the nation in 3-point field goal percentage, are fourth in the nation in field goal shooting, eighth in scoring margin (17.4) and eighth in scoring (81.9).

Fab frosh

Indiana’s Cody Zeller has been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week five times this year and for good reason. He not only leads the Hoosiers in scoring (14.7 ppg) and rebounding (6.5 rpg), but is first in the conference and fifth in the nation in field goal percentage (64.5).

Ohio State sophomore Jared Sullinger has recorded at least 10 points and 10 rebounds in three of the last five games he has played for a career total of 26. He tied the Ohio State freshman record with 18 double-doubles a season ago. Through 16 games, Sullinger is averaging 17.4 points and 9.3 rebounds a game.

Coaches

Thad Matta has a career record of 307-91 over 12 years as a head coach, which includes a 205-60 mark in eight seasons at Ohio State. Matta coached for one season at Butler and three at Xavier before taking over the Buckeyes program.

In his time in Columbus, he’s won four Big Ten regular season titles and three Big Ten tournament crowns and the Buckeyes have been to five NCAA tournaments with Matta at the helm. Overall he’s taken nine teams to NCAA tournament play and won the 2008 National Invitational Tournament with Ohio State.

Indiana named Tom Crean as its 28th men’s basketball coach on April 2, 2008 and he’s now in his fourth year with the Hoosiers. Crean is 233-164 all-time as a head coach and has five wins over nationally ranked foes in the last calendar year. 

Trends

Indiana is 1-10 ATS in its last 11 games against the Big Ten and 1-7 ATS in its last 8 series meetings with Ohio State.

The ‘over’ is 6-2 in the last eight meetings and is 20-8-1 in the Buckeyes last 29 games against the Big Ten.

Ohio State has won six of the last seven meetings and the last three in Columbus.

Harvey’s Take: It’s a bounce back game for both teams but Ohio State gets the nod from me. Look for the Buckeyes to put a big spanking on Indiana.

Good luck!