Bet On College Basketball: Ohio St. vs. Michigan
There isn’t the same hatred in this game as there is surrounding the date between these two in November on the football field, but there is plenty on the line in this one.
NCAA Basketball Matchup: Ohio State vs. Michigan
9:00 PM EST on ESPN
College Basketball Gambling Odds from Bookmaker
NCAA Basketball Betting Favorite: Ohio State -5
Over/Under: 126
Michigan’s basketball program has come to life over the last couple years, and they are looking for a signature win to propel them to the top of the Big Ten.
Ohio State is one game ahead of Michigan in the standings going into this Saturday night showdown.
The Buckeyes had a clear hold on the lead in the Big Ten until last Saturday when they were dominated at home by the Michigan State Spartans. The Buckeyes did bounce back with a nice win at Minnesota, but the way in which they lost to Michigan State was concerning for their fans.
Jared Sullinger leads the team in both points and rebounds. Sullinger averages 17.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. William Buford has been inconsistent this year, and the team really needs him to be a consistent second scorer. Deshaun Thomas averages 14.2 points per game, and he is capable of lighting it up on any given night. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Ohio State will have the big advantage inside in this one, and they must take advantage.
Michigan relies heavily on three-point shooting. Zack Novak and Evan Smotrycz are the team’s two best outside shooters. Novak is one of those players that does all of the little things to help this team win.
Tim Hardaway Jr. is the team’s leading scorer at 14.3 points per game. Hardaway is capable of getting to the rim or shooting the outside jumper. Before the season there were lots of questions about the point guard spot, but Trey Burke has stepped up and done a magnificent job in his freshman season.
Burke averages 14 points per game, and he has already dished out 125 assists. Michigan will count on Jordan Morgan to stay out of foul trouble and do a good job on Jared Sullinger in this one.
Expect a back and forth type of game here. Both teams will be very hungry for a win. In the end, I think the Buckeyes win, but it will be a close game.
Prediction: Ohio State 64 Michigan 61
