The Ohio State Buckeyes take on the Penn State Nittany Lions on Wednesday night in a Big Ten college basketball matchup. The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. ET in State College, Pennsylvania.
The Buckeyes are listed as 6.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set at O/U 152.5 points. Below is my full preview, prediction, and pick for this Big Ten college basketball matchup.
Penn State vs. Ohio State prediction, preview
It has been another rough season for Penn State. Mike Rhodes’ squad has gotten worse in each season since he took over. This season, the Nittany Lions really fell off a cliff. Penn State ranks dead last in the Big Ten with a 3-15 record. Penn State lost each of its first eight games in Big Ten play. They have found a bit more success down the stretch, winning two of their past five games. However, their three conference wins this season have come by a combined seven points. Even in the wins, they’re squeaking out results. Penn State’s major issue has been on the defensive end of the floor. They rank 233rd in the nation in defensive rating and are giving up the most points per game in the Big Ten.
Ohio State is firmly on the bubble. The Buckeyes are currently projected to be in the First Four in the NCAA Tournament in Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology. Last time out, they picked up a massive win over Purdue to move themselves into the field. Ohio State has two very winnable games, against Penn State and Indiana, to close out the regular season. With two wins there and a good showing in the Big Ten tournament, Ohio State could cement itself in the top 60, avoiding the First Four. The Buckeyes are a great offensive team, ranking 22nd in the nation in offensive rating.
Penn State vs. Ohio State pick
My best bet is on Ohio State to cover as 6.5-point favorites. The Buckeyes rank 22nd in the nation in offensive rating, and Penn State ranks 233rd in the nation in defensive rating. Ohio State has scored at least 82 points in each of its past seven wins. The Buckeyes have put up big numbers against bad teams. Penn State is the worst defensive team in the Big Ten. The three other teams in the bottom-four of the Big Ten defensively are Oregon, Minnesota and Maryland. Ohio State beat Maryland by 20 points, Oregon by 10 points and Minnesota by eight points. The Buckeyes should dominate this game with so much to play for and cover the 6.5-point spread.
