Buckeyes Looking to Bounce Back
Ohio State is 14-8-1 ATS, and the over is also 14-8-1 in their 23 games. They are 7-3 on the road, including six straight wins. The Buckeyes offense ranks 43rd in the nation in scoring at 78.5 points per game while also ranking 16th in free throw percentage (77.7), 54th in 3-point percentage (36.8), and 62nd in field goal percentage (46.4).
Forward E.J. Liddell leads Ohio State in scoring (15.9 points per game) and rebounding (6.8 rpg). Guard Duane Washington Jr. averages 15.6 points per game, while forward Justice Sueing is at 10.3 points per game. Either Liddell or Washington have led OSU in scoring in 13 straight games, and in nine of those games, at least one of them has gone over the 20-point mark.
Washington led the way with 30 points on Sunday, and Liddell added 23, but the Buckeyes lost to Michigan 92-87. Ohio State made 11-of-22 from 3-point range in the loss but were outrebounded by four and outscored at the free-throw line by seven.
In the first game, Ohio State limited the Spartans to 5-of-24 from a distance and 32.1 percent shooting overall. Liddell scored 20 points and grabbed eight boards, while Sueing had 17 points. Michigan State held Washington to eight points on 2-for-10 shooting.
Spartans Searching for Consistency
Michigan State is 6-15 ATS, and the under is 11-10 in their 21 games. They are 9-3 at home and just knocked off No. 5 Illinois 81-72 on Tuesday night. The Spartans defense has struggled this season as they rank 221st in points allowed (71.7), and they score 71.3 points per game, ranking 181st in the nation.
With games left against No. 4 Ohio State, Maryland, and possibly two shots at No. 3 Michigan, the Spartans can still find a path to the NCAA Tournament. That journey began last week with wins at Indiana and at home against No. 5 Illinois. In the latter, forward Aaron Henry scored 20 points while guard Joshua Langford posted a 13 point/16 rebound double-double.
Henry leads the team on the season with 15.2 points per game and 3.5 assists per game. Forward Joey Hauser has a team-best 6.1 rebounds per game to go with 10.3 points per contest, and Langford also averages 10.0 points per game.
Michigan State had a horrible shooting game against the Buckeyes a month ago as their starters were just 4-for-21 from deep. Langford led the team with 14 points while Hauser had 11, and Henry scored 10.
Betting Line and Pick
This line got lowered after the Spartans upset Indiana and Illinois. If the Michigan State team that lost to Purdue by ten and Iowa by 30 last week is the one that shows up Thursday, then the Buckeyes will waltz to a big win. The Ohio State offense has put up at least 73 points in eight straight games, and that’s a number the Spartans have hit just three times in 2021.
FREE PICK: Ohio State -4
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