The Indiana Hoosiers have lost four straight games, three of which to ranked teams. The recent stretch of losses has put them in a bad position in the Big Ten. They’ve fallen behind Michigan, and their 16-9 record won’t help them in the future. In order to get their season back on track, the Hoosiers need to start winning games. Unfortunately, they face a tough test in Ohio State today.
The Ohio State Buckeyes are 9-5 in the Big Ten and 16-7 overall this season. They’re coming off of a loss to Iowa, 75-62, a game in which they were favored by five points. The Buckeyes haven’t been nearly as good as they were expected to be this season. With the end of the year in sight, the Buckeyes could be in trouble. Indiana or Ohio State, who’s the best bet for tonight in our NCAAB picks and same game parlay.
Game Preview: Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio State Buckeyes
The Hoosiers have a nearly identical offense to the Buckeyes, averaging 71.44 points per game. The area that they’re severely lacking in is when it comes to shooting from beyond the arc. Indiana has an average of 33.62% shooting from the three-point line. Without being able to stretch the court, the Hoosiers come in at a massive disadvantage when they face Ohio State.
The last time the Buckeyes played the Hoosier, they let the Hoosiers pull off an upset. Indiana won the game 67-51, an embarrassing night for the Buckeyes. The reason the Buckeyes lost was due to the tough defense of the Hoosiers. Indiana allows only 64.24 points per game, the Buckeyes will have to overcome this defense tonight. The real question is, can they cover?
Against the Spread: Ohio State -6.5
There are a few reasons why we think Ohio State can cover this 6.5-point spread today. One of these reasons is E.J. Liddell, the Buckeyes leading scorer. Liddell was responsible for the Buckeyes 70-45 win over Minnesota a few nights ago. He averages 19.7 points per game and all Ohio State needs to do is get him opportunities. We’ll talk more about Liddell in a moment.
The other reason is Ohio State desperately needs to win this game. Another conference loss would be a death sentence for them. They’re also very familiar with the Hoosier defense at this point in the year. They should know which schemes they’ll see and how to game plan against them. Plus, the spread isn’t incredibly large, although we’d much rather it be smaller than 6.5.
The Total: UNDER 135
You’ve got to go with the under in this game when considering the defenses of both these teams. We already mentioned the stout Hoosiers defense, allowing just 64.24 points per game. However, the Buckeyes’ defense is no slouch, they keep their opponents to an average of 66.7 points per game. When these two square off, the offenses are a lot less important than defense.
It’s also important to note that in their last ten meetings, the total has one under six times. In four of Ohio State’s last five games, the total has gone under. We feel that it’s safe to say the total won’t be going over 135 in this game.
Win Margin: Ohio State by 1-10 +164
This is a great bet to tack onto the end of your single-game parlay. We already think that E.J. Liddell will put the Buckeyes over the top here, so add extra winnings. In their game against Michigan, E.J. Liddell put up an outstanding 26 points. He’s proved multiple times that he’ll be one of the most notable prospects in the future NBA Draft.
With Liddell and Cedric Russell teaming up to take down the Hoosiers, the Buckeyes will win this one. By adding the winning margin 1-10 to your ticket, you’ll really capitalize on this wager.