Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Preview

The Iowa Hawkeyes (16-15, 11-19-1 ATS) have been playing below standards since mid-January. They registered just four wins in 15 games since, and that fourth victory was against Nebraska on the final day of the regular season. Prior to that, Iowa was on a three-game losing skid after falling to Illinois, Northwestern, and Michigan State. The Hawkeyes ended in 14th place in the Big Ten Standings.

Iowa is averaging 82.3 PPG (18th) and is allowing 79.2 PPG (341st). The Hawkeyes are getting 32.4 RPG (366th) and dish out 18.3 APG (6th). Owen Freeman is the team’s top performer with 16.7 PPG, a team-high 6.7 RPG, and a team-high 1.8 BPG. Payton Sandfort has 16.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 2.9 APG, while Josh Dix contributes 14.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG, and 2.8 APG.

Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Preview

The Ohio State Buckeyes (17-14, 16-15 ATS) have been in better form than Iowa but didn’t impress over the last couple of weeks. The Buckeyes lost the final game of the regular season to Indiana on the road, and before that, they beat USC and Nebraska. Ohio State scored a season-high 116 points against Nebraska; the game was settled after two overtimes, though. It was the fourth time this season that Ohio State reached a 100-point mark. The Buckeyes enter the conference tournament as the No. 10 seed.

Ohio State averages 79.1 PPG (60th) and allows 73.4 PPG (228th). The Buckeyes are 309th in rebounds (33.7) and 238th in assists (13.3). Bruce Thornton leads the team with 17.5 PPG, 3.4 RPG, a team-high 4.5 APG, and a team-high 1.1 SPG. Devin Royal follows him with 13.6 PPG and a team-high 6.9 RPG, while Micah Parrish chips in 13.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 1.1 SPG.

Why Iowa will beat Ohio State

• Iowa has won each of its last four games against the Big Ten Conference at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
• Ohio State has lost three of its last four games against the Big Ten Conference at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
• Iowa has won the first half in three of its last four games against Conference opponents at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Why Ohio State will beat Iowa

• Ohio State has won nine of its last 10 games against non-AP-ranked opponents at a neutral venue.
• Iowa has lost each of its last four night games against the Big Ten Conference.
• Iowa has lost the first half in each of its last five night games against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Total Points Facts

• Each of Ohio State’s last eight Conference Tournament games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse have produced a total of 154 or fewer points.
• Four of Iowa’s last five games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse have produced a total of 157+ points.

Matchup/League Facts

• Ohio State ranks 14th among Division 1 teams for opponent three-point percentage this season (30.1%).
• Ohio State ranks T39th among Division 1 teams for three-point percentage this season (37.1%).
• Iowa ranks 6th among Division 1 teams for field goals made per game this season (30.4).
• Iowa ranks 356th among Division 1 teams for opponent field goals made per game this season (29.5).

Ohio State vs Iowa Prediction

The rivals have traded wins in the previous ten H2H encounters as each recorded five. Ohio State won the first meeting of the season when it was 82-65, but I expect a closer tilt this time around. Both teams have excellent offenses and considering their respective defenses are not among the best, I anticipate a lot of points and an attractive game. Ohio State has hit the Team Total Over in 21 of its last 36 games, while the Buckeyes have hit the Game Total Over in 20 of their previous 36 games. Additionally, Iowa has hit the Game Total Over in 19 of its last 34 games. I am backing Over.

Read the rest of "Ohio State vs Iowa Prediction 3/12/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Preview

The Ohio State Buckeyes recently lost to UCLA, while beating USC and Nebraska. Ohio State looks for three straight wins for the first time since January 21-30. 

The Ohio State Buckeyes are averaging 79.7 points on 47 percent shooting and allowing 73.7 points on 42.7 percent shooting. Bruce Thornton is averaging 17.8 points and 3.3 rebounds, while Devin Royal is averaging 13.6 points and 7 rebounds. John Mobley Jr. is the third double-digit scorer and Micah Parrish is grabbing 4.6 rebounds. The Ohio State Buckeyes are shooting 37.3 percent from beyond the arc and 75 percent from the free throw line. The Ohio State Buckeyes are allowing 30.2 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 30.5 rebounds per game.

Indiana Hoosiers Betting Preview

The Indiana Hoosiers revelry beat Washington and Penn State, while losing to Oregon. It’s senior night for an Indiana roster that has nine seniors.

The Indiana Hoosiers are averaging 75.5 points on 46.5 percent shooting and allowing 72.4 points on 43.4 percent shooting. Oumar Ballo is averaging 13.3 points and 9.2 rebounds, while Malik Reneau is averaging 13 points and 2.1 assists. Mackenzie Mgbako is the third double-digit scorer and Myles Rice is grabbing 2.9 rebounds. The Indiana Hoosiers are shooting 32.6 percent from beyond the arc and 70.7 percent from the free throw line. The Indiana Hoosiers are allowing 32.5 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 32.6 rebounds per game.

Indiana vs Ohio State Injury Report

Indiana will be without Jakai Newton, Jackson Creel, Gabe Cupps, Shaun Burke, and Ian Stephens. Ohio State will be without Meechie Johnson Jr., while Colby Baumann is questionable with an illness.

Indiana vs Ohio State Prediction

You could argue Ohio State is the more talented team, but it was Indiana that won the first game in overtime and has beaten the Buckeyes in each of the last four games. Indiana has put together some decent games lately, with wins in three of its last four games. Indiana has seen 13 of its 18 wins this season come at home, and it’s senior night, which adds extra motivation. Also, this will be the last regular season game for Mike Woodson, so you can bet players will have him on their mind as well. There should be a lot of emotions in the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall today. I expect the Hoosiers to find a way to get it done given everything on the line. I’ll lay the bucket with Indiana.

Read the rest of "Indiana vs Ohio State Prediction 3/8/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Preview

The Ohio State Buckeyes are 16-13 (8-10) this year after they defeated USC by a score of 87-82 in their last game. Ohio State led 52-38 at halftime, but they were outscored 44-35 in the second half in the win. The Buckeyes shot 54% from the field, 55% on three-pointers, and 84.6% on free throws in the game. Bruce Thornton led Ohio State with 20 points and five assists, while Micah Parrish added 20 points and four assists in the game. 

Prior to that win, the Buckeyes lost to UCLA by a score of 69-61 and Northwestern by a score of 70-49. Ohio State has lost three of their last four games and they are currently 10th in the Big Ten standings with an 8-10 record. Ohio State has scored 78.5 points per game and they have allowed 72.3 points per game, while also averaging 33.8 rebounds and 13.1 assists per game this season. Bruce Thornton is averaging 17.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, while Devin Royal is averaging 13.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game this year. Ohio State is shooting 46.8% from the field, 75.2% on free throws, and 37.5% on three-pointers this season. Ohio State will take on Indiana after this game.

Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Preview

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are 17-12 (7-11) this season after they lost to Minnesota by a score of 67-65 in their last game. Nebraska trailed 35-26 at halftime, but they did score 39 points in the second half in the close loss. The Cornhuskers shot 43.1% from the field, 23.5% on three-pointers, and 55% on free throws in the game. Juwan Gary led Nebraska with 21 points and five rebounds, while Brice Williams added 21 points and three rebounds in the loss. 

Prior to that game, the Cornhuskers lost to Michigan by a score of 49-46 and Penn State by a score of 89-72. Nebraska has lost four of their last five games and they are currently tied for 11th in the Big Ten standings with a 7-11 record. Nebraska has scored 74.3 points per game and they have allowed 71.0 points per game, while also averaging 34.9 rebounds and 13.7 assists per game this season. Brice Williams is averaging 19.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game, while Juwan Gary is averaging 13.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game this year. Nebraska is shooting 45.3% from the field, 74.8% on free throws, and 32.5% on three-pointers this season. 

Why Ohio State will beat Nebraska

• The home team has won each of the last four games between Nebraska and Ohio State.
• Nebraska has lost four of its last five games.
• Nebraska has lost the first half in each of its last seven games against the Big Ten Conference.

Ohio State vs Nebraska Prediction 

Ohio State comes into this matchup after snapping their losing streak with a win over USC and they cannot afford to lose this game at home. The Buckeyes are shooting nearly 47% from the field this year, but they have scored 61 and 49 points in two of their last three games. Nebraska has lost three games in a row, but their last two have been by a combined five points. The Cornhuskers have been decent on the defensive end of the court in three of their last four games, but they are 3-5 in their last eight road games. I don’t really trust either team in this matchup, but I will fade Nebraska on the road. Take Ohio State here. 

Read the rest of "Ohio State vs Nebraska Prediction 3/4/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

USC is Ice Cold

USC is ice-cold heading into this game, and they have lost three games in a row. Two games ago against Maryland, they lost 88-71, and in the last game against Rutgers, they lost 95-85. USC’s offense was impressive, shooting 51.5 percent from the field, while they allowed Rutgers to shoot 54.5 percent from the field. Desmond Claude had a huge game putting up 30 points, two rebounds, and two assists. Wesley Yates III had a strong game, also putting up 23 points, three rebounds, and three assists.

USC currently has a 14-13 overall record and has gone 11-16 against the spread. Its defense wasn’t just bad in the last game; it’s been bad all season, giving up 74.3 points per game. The Trojans, as a team, are shooting 48.3 percent from the field. USC knows they can score, and they will probably run up the score again here. The question is, will they make enough defensive stops?

Ohio State is Struggling

Ohio State is suddenly struggling, and it has lost two games in a row. Two games ago against Northwestern, they lost 70-49, and in the last game against UCLA, they lost 69-61. Against UCLA, they shot only 31.7 percent from the field and 22.2 percent from behind the three-point line. Bruce Thorton had a strong game, putting up 21 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Micah Parish also stepped up with 12 points. The rest of the offense wasn’t there, though. 

Ohio State sits with a 15-13 record overall, but they have only gone 3-6 away from home.  The offense for the Buckeyes has been strong, but the defense has been a major issue. The offense is ranked 74th in all of college basketball, but the defense is giving up 71.9 points per game. In this game, Ohio State is going to need the defense to step up in a major way here. Bruce Thorton has been the top player, averaging 17.3 points while shooting 50.8 percent from the field and 43.7 percent from behind the three-point line. Ohio State will meet Nebraska and Indiana after this game.

USC vs Ohio State Prediction

USC is going to push the tempo here, and that will be the difference here in terms of the total. In the last game against Rutgers, the defense gave up 95 points, and Ohio State will put on a show with the offense. The Buckeyes are averaging 78.2 points per game, a number they will end up blowing by in this game. USC’s offense is going to make up for their poor defense, and they will end up putting on a show. Zero defense will be played by either team, and the over will end up cashing. 

Read the rest of "USC vs Ohio State Prediction 2/26/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Before we dive into the UCLA Bruins vs. Ohio State Buckeyes game let’s review the rules for Draftkings single game showdown contest.

Draftkings Single Game Showdown Contest Rules

You have $50,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team captain. The captain accumulates 1.5 times the standard fantasy points. Additionally, the captain is 1.5 times the standard cost of the flex position.

The remaining four players in your lineup will receive the standard fantasy points. Having stated that, it is highly important for you to identify the correct player for your captain position if you hope to win a large field DFS GPP (guaranteed prize pool) showdown contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single game showdown contest, I recommend that you check out the Draftkings website for more details.

*I recommend that all readers review the starting lineups for both teams prior to setting your DFS lineup for this one game slate.

Here are my Draftkings picks for this afternoon’s Ohio State vs. UCLA matchup.

Draftkings NCAA College Basketball Showdown Picks

Captain-Bruce Thornton, Guard, Ohio State $10,800

Talented guard Bruce Thornton has certainly been an essential part of the Ohio State Buckeyes starting lineup this season. With that said, how has the junior guard played from a statistical perspective? Let’s review Thornton’s game data from the 2024 NCAA regular season to answer that question.

In the 27 games that Bruce Thornton has played for the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Thornton is averaging a robust 17.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.1 steals a game.

Looking closer at the data just presented, in the 27 games that Bruce Thornton has played for the Ohio State Buckeyes this season, Thornton has compiled a 51.4% field goal percentage, a 45.8 three-point percentage and an 82.9% free throw percentage.

Last week, in the Michigan Wolverines 86-83 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes, junior guard Bruce Thornton played at a high level. More specifically, Thornton accumulated 17 points, five rebounds, six assists and two steals in the Michigan Wolverines victory over Ohio State.

Examining the data just presented more closely, in the Wolverines win over the Buckeyes just mentioned, Bruce Thornton amassed a rather impressive 36.8 Draftkings points.

As I noted in the rules section above, selecting the correct player at the captain position for a Draftkings NCAA showdown lineup is absolutely vital if you hope to win a large field GPP (guaranteed prize pool) DFS contest. Keep that in mind as you construct your lineups for this one game Draftkings slate.

In my view, Bruce Thornton is the most likely player to post the most Draftkings points in this NCAA regular season game. Having stated that, I am backing Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton at the captain position for this one game Draftkings NCAA Showdown contest.

Flex Plays

Tyler Bilodeau, Forward, UCLA Bruins $8,800

Forward Tyler Bilodeau has certainly been a key contributor to the Ohio State offense this season. In the 26 games that Bilodeau has played for the UCLA Bruins this season, Bilodeau is averaging 14.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.4 blocks a game.

Additional flex plays I like to perform well in this game (Draftkings price noted): Kobe Johnson, Guard (UCLA) $8,400: Micah Parrish, Guard (Ohio State) $9,600.

Read the rest of "Draftkings NCAA Basketball Picks: Ohio State vs. UCLA 2/23/25" at Sports Chat Place

Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Preview

Ohio State hasn’t done too badly in the record column this year, but they’ve been pretty choppy since early January amid some tough conference matchups. The Buckeyes kicked things off with a 9-4 run, taking wins over Texas, Youngstown State, Evansville, Campbell, Green Bay, Rutgers, Valparaiso, Kentucky and Indiana State in that time. A 1-4 stretch ensued with a lone win over Minnesota amid losses to Michigan State, Oregon, Wisconsin and Indiana. Ohio State has since gone 5-4 with wins over Purdue, Iowa, Penn State, Maryland and Washington. The losses otherwise during that time came versus Illinois, Nebraska, Michigan and Northwestern. In total that gives Ohio State a 15-12 run through 27 games this year.

In the Northwestern matchup on Thursday, the Buckeyes were down 31-24 by the break. Ohio State got even worse from there on a 39-25 deficit and took the blowout loss 70-49 at home. Topping the scorers in the losing effort was Micah Parrish with 16 points, one rebound and one steal. Bruce Thornton put up 13 points with four assists, one rebound and two steals as the only other team player to reach double-digits. Leading the Buckeyes off the bench was Ques Glover with six points, two rebounds and one assist in 23 minutes of work on the floor.

UCLA Bruins Betting Preview

Over on the UCLA side, they’ve got a couple of spotty runs in the record column so far but overall they’re not doing too badly. The Bruins kicked things off with an 11-2 stretch, taking out Rider, Boston U, Lehigh, Idaho State, Cal State Fullerton, Southern Utah, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Prairie View and Gonzaga during that time. Losses to Nebraska, Michigan, Maryland and Rutgers piled up in the next four outings, but then UCLA took out Iowa, Wisconsin, Washington, USC, Oregon, Michigan State and Penn State during a nice run. The last three have been a 1-2 stretch though, with losses to Illinois and Minnesota around a lone win over Indiana. That gives UCLA a 19-8 record across their first 27 games of the 2024-25 season.

Matched up against Minnesota in their latest outing on Tuesday, the Bruins held a dominant 34-23 edge by halftime. UCLA was blazed in the second half 41-27 however, leading to a tough home loss 64-61 in the end. Sebastian Mack posted 13 points off the bench with two rebounds and three assists. Kobe Johnson added 12 points with three rebounds, two assists and two steals, while Tyler Bilodeau put up 12 points, six rebounds and one assist. Eric Dailey chipped in with seven points, four rebounds and one assist during the loss as well.

Why the UCLA Bruins will win

• UCLA has won 31 of its last 32 Sunday games at Edwin W. Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescon.
• Ohio State has lost four of its last five day games.
• UCLA has won the first half in each of its last 11 games at Edwin W. Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescon against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Why the Ohio State Buckeyes will win

• Ohio State has won each of its last three games against UCLA.
• UCLA has lost six of its last eight day games against the Big Ten Conference.
• Ohio State has won the first half in each of its last six day games against non-AP-ranked opponents.

UCLA vs Ohio State Prediction

I’ll just stay with UCLA here. The Bruins had a miserable second half in their last outing versus Minnesota however, so they’ll need a good effort in their return to the court. UCLA ended up shooting comparably (45.1 percent to 45.8 percent) and rebounding comparably (28 to 29) in that loss to the Gophers, and even scored 23 points off 16 Minnesota turnovers. The major issue however, was the 9-of-19 (47.4 percent) from the line, which just isn’t going to get it done in close games. The 61 points were UCLA’s lowest total (tie) since posting just 58 in an eight-point road loss to Nebraska back on January 4.

Ohio State is coming off a fairly uncharacteristic offensive outing themselves, notching just 49 points versus Northwestern in a home loss. I like better shooting from both sides here and a fairly high total. In the end it should be UCLA’s game to control, though.

Read the rest of "UCLA vs Ohio State Prediction 2/23/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Preview

The Ohio State Buckeyes are 15-11 (7-8) this year after they lost to Michigan by a score of 86-83 in their last game. Ohio State trailed 44-39 at halftime, but they scored 44 points in the second half, before missing a wide-open shot that would have tied the game. The Buckeyes shot 45.9% from the field, 36% on three-pointers, and 66.7% on free throws in the game. Devin Royal led Ohio State with 26 points and five rebounds, while Bruce Thornton added 17 points and six assists in the game. 

Prior to that loss, the Buckeyes defeated Washington by a score of 93-69 but did lose to Nebraska by a score of 79-71 before that. Ohio State has alternated wins and losses over their last six games and they are currently a half-game below .500 in the Big Ten standings. Ohio State has scored 80.0 points per game and they have allowed 72.1 points per game, while also averaging 34.7 rebounds and 13.3 assists per game this season. Bruce Thornton is averaging 17.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game, while Devin Royal is averaging 14.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game this year. Ohio State is shooting 47.6% from the field, 73.9% on free throws, and 38.3% on three-pointers this season. Ohio State will meet UCLA and USC after this game.

Northwestern Wildcats Betting Preview

The Northwestern Wildcats are 13-13 (4-11) this season after they lost to Nebraska by a score of 68-64 in their last game. Northwestern led 36-21 at halftime, but they were outscored 47-28 in the second half for the loss. The Wildcats shot 36.1% from the field, 35% on three-pointers, and 62.5% on free throws in the game. Nick Martinelli led Northwestern with 23 points and nine rebounds, while Ty Berry added 23 points and two rebounds in the loss. 

Prior to that game, the Wildcats lost to Oregon by a score of 81-75 and Washington by a score of 76-71. Northwestern has lost six of their last seven games and they are currently second to last in the Big Ten standings with a 4-11 record. Northwestern has scored 73.5 points per game and they have allowed 70.5 points per game, while also averaging 34.2 rebounds and 14.6 assists per game this season. Nick Martinelli is averaging 19.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game, while Ty Berry is averaging 10.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game this year. Northwestern is shooting 44.1% from the field, 72.8% on free throws, and 33.8% on three-pointers this season. 

Why Ohio State will beat Northwestern

• Northwestern has lost each of its last eight road games against the Big Ten Conference.
• Ohio State has won seven of its last eight night games at Value City Arena at Schottenstein Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Ohio State has won the first half in each of its last 11 home games against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Total Points Facts

• Each of Ohio State’s last nine games against Conference opponents has produced a total of 143+ points.
• Each of Northwestern’s last eight night games against non-AP-ranked opponents has produced a total of 147+ points.

Ohio State vs Northwestern Prediction 

Northwestern comes into this matchup after losing six of their last seven games and they will be back on the road here. The Wildcats are dealing with injuries to some key players and they are just 0-7 in their last seven road games. Northwestern has struggled defensively over the last few weeks, as they have allowed at least 75 points in 10 of their last 13 games. Ohio State has had trouble stringing wins together over the last few weeks, but they cannot afford a loss in this matchup. The Buckeyes are shooting 47.6% from the field this year and they have also had some defensive issues recently, but I like them in this spot. I don’t think Northwestern can score consistently enough with the injuries they are dealing with, so give me the Buckeyes at home. 

Read the rest of "Ohio State vs Northwestern Prediction 2/20/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Before we dive into the Michigan Wolverines vs. Ohio State Buckeyes game let’s review the rules for Draftkings single game showdown contest.

Draftkings Single Game Showdown Contest Rules

You have $50,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team captain. The captain accumulates 1.5 times the standard fantasy points. Additionally, the captain is 1.5 times the standard cost of the flex position.

The remaining four players in your lineup will receive the standard fantasy points. Having stated that, it is highly important for you to identify the correct player for your captain position if you hope to win a large field DFS GPP (guaranteed prize pool) showdown contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single game showdown contest, I recommend that you check out the Draftkings website for more details.

*I recommend that all readers review the starting lineups for both teams prior to setting your DFS lineup for this one game slate.

Here are my Draftkings picks for this afternoon’s Michigan Wolverines vs. Ohio State Buckeyes matchup.

Draftkings NCAA College Basketball Showdown Picks

Captain-Danny Wolf, Guard, Michigan Wolverines $11,200

Junior forward Danny Wolf has certainly been a standout performer for the Michigan Wolverines this season. With that said, how has the talented forward played from a statistical perspective? Let’s review Danny Wolf’s game data from the 2024 NCAA regular season to answer that question.

In the 24 games that forward Danny Wolf has played for the Michigan Wolverines in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Wolf is averaging a robust 12.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 blocks and 0.8 steals a game.

Looking closer at the data just presented, in the 24 games that Danny Wolf has played for the Michigan Wolverines this season, Wolf has compiled a 51.4% field goal percentage, a 37.1 three-point percentage and a 62.8% free throw percentage.

More recently, in the Michigan Wolverines 70-67 win over the Indiana Hoosiers eight days ago, junior forward Danny Wolf played at a high level. More specifically, Wolf tallied 20 points, 13 rebounds, nine rebounds, five assists and one block in the Michigan Wolverines victory over the Indiana Hoosiers.

Examining the data just presented more closely, in the Wolverines win over the Indiana Hoosiers just mentioned, Danny Wolf amassed a rather impressive 40.3 Draftkings points.

As I noted in the rules section above, selecting the correct player at the captain position for a Draftkings NCAA showdown lineup is absolutely vital if you hope to win a large field GPP (guaranteed prize pool) DFS contest. Keep that in mind as you construct your lineups for this one game Draftkings slate.

In my view, Danny Wolf is the most likely player to post the most Draftkings points in this afternoon’s NCAA regular season game. With that said, I am backing Danny Wolf at the captain position for this one game Draftkings NCAA Showdown contest.

Flex Plays

Bruce Thornton, Guard, Ohio State Buckeyes $12,000

In the 25 games that guard Bruce Thornton has played for the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Thornton is averaging 17.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.1 steals a game.

Looking closer at the data just presented, in the 25 games that Bruce Thornton has played for the Ohio State Buckeyes this season, Thornton has averaged 30.7 Draftkings points a game.

Additional flex plays I like to perform well in this game (Draftkings price noted): Devin Royal, Forward (Ohio State) $7,800: Micah Parrish, Guard (Ohio State) $8,800: Will Tschetter, Forward (Michigan) $3,400.

Read the rest of "Draftkings NCAA Basketball Picks: Michigan vs. Ohio State 2/16/25" at Sports Chat Place

Michigan Wolverines Betting Preview

The Wolverines have a couple of very brief rough spots in the record column so far this year. Overall, however, Michigan is doing quite well against tough competition. An 8-1 start awaited the Wolverines over their first nine outings, with a lone loss to Wake Forest amid wins versus Cleveland State, TCU, Miami Ohio, Tarleton State, Virginia Tech, Xavier, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Consecutive losses to Arkansas and Oklahoma followed, then came wins over Fort Wayne, Western Kentucky, USC, UCLA, and Washington. Michigan went 1-2 over the next three with a win over Northwestern in between losses to Minnesota and Purdue. Since then it’s been wins over Penn State, Rutgers, Oregon, Indiana, and Purdue in succession. That gives the Wolverines a 19-5 overall record through their first 24 games of the year.

In the Purdue game on Tuesday, the Wolverines were down by two points at the break. Michigan hit a 40-36 run the rest of the way however, eventually pulling out the win 75-73 in dramatic fashion. Leading team scorer Danny Wolf posted 15 points with nine rebounds and two assists. Both Vladislav Goldin (five rebounds; three steals) and Tre Donaldson (three rebounds) chipped in 12 points apiece, and Roddy Gayle led the bench scoring with his 14 points, seven boards and two assists in 27 minutes of work on the floor.

Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Preview

Over on the Ohio State side, they’ve got a couple of choppy runs in the books so far but overall they’re not doing too badly either. The Buckeyes went 6-4 over their first 10 games, taking out Texas, Youngstown State, Evansville, Campbell, Green Bay, and Rutgers among losses to Texas A&M, Pitt, Maryland, and Auburn. Ohio State beat Valparaiso, Kentucky, Indiana State, and Minnesota over the next five (with a loss to Michigan State), then lost to Oregon, Wisconsin, and Indiana. Since then it’s been a 5-2 run with losses to only Illinois and Nebraska. The wins otherwise have been over Purdue, Iowa, Penn State, Maryland and Washington. Through 25 games this year, Ohio State has carved out a 15-10 overall record.

Matched up against Washington in their Wednesday game, the Buckeyes came out of the break with a 51-36 edge. Ohio State hit a 42-33 run the rest of the way and took the eventual win 93-69. John Mobley (two rebounds; two assists) and Micah Parrish (seven rebounds; three assists) led the way with 21 points apiece. Bruce Thornton added 17 points with four rebounds and five assists, while Aaron Bradshaw posted 12 points with three rebounds.

Why the Ohio State Buckeyes will win

• Ohio State has won each of its last six day games against the Big Ten Conference at Value City Arena at Schottenstein Center.
• Ohio State has won the first half in each of its last nine day games at Value City Arena at Schottenstein Center.

Why the Michigan Wolverines will win

• Michigan has won each of its last seven day games.
• Ohio State has lost four of its last five day games against AP-ranked opponents.
• Michigan has won the first half in 16 of its last 18 games against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Total Points Facts

• Seventeen of the last 18 games between Michigan and Ohio State have produced a total of 146 or fewer points.
• Four of Michigan’s last five games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 148 or fewer points.

Ohio State vs Michigan Prediction

I’m going to take a stab at Ohio State. The Buckeyes are fresh off a dominant win versus a middling Washington team, posting a nice 58.2 percent shooting with a 34-22 rebounding edge and 18-of-22 (81.8 percent) from the line. The 14 turnovers were just about the only blemish to speak of in that home victory. Ohio State has now gone 5-2 in their last seven games amid some difficult teams, scoring 71 or more points in each of those outings.

As for Michigan, they were able to dispatch a talented Purdue team in their last matchup thanks to 44.6 percent shooting. The Wolverines did give up 11 turnovers for 14 Boilermakers points, though. Michigan has won five straight themselves with 70 or more points in four of those. Ohio State is in for a tough matchup here, even in a home game. The Buckeyes are going to have to minimize their mistakes and get off to a quick start in order to keep pace. I like a highly entertaining game on Sunday as the Buckeyes power out an eventual cover. It’ll be a good one to watch regardless.

Read the rest of "Ohio State vs Michigan Prediction 2/16/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Preview

The Ohio State Buckeyes are 14-10 (6-7) this season after they lost to Nebraska by a score of 79-71 in their last game. Ohio State led 39-34 at halftime, but they were outscored by a total of 45-32 in the second half in the loss. The Buckeyes shot 42.6% from the field, 40% on three-pointers, and 60% on free throws in the game. Micah Parrish led Ohio State with 30 points and four rebounds, while John Mobley Jr. added 21 points and two assists in the game. 

Prior to that loss, the Buckeyes defeated Maryland by a score of 73-70 but did lose to Illinois by a score of 87-79 before that. Ohio State has won four of their last six games and they are currently tied for eighth in the Big Ten standings with a 6-7 record. Ohio State has scored 79.3 points per game and they have allowed 71.7 points per game, while also averaging 34.8 rebounds and 13.2 assists per game this season. Bruce Thornton is averaging 17.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, while Devin Royal is averaging 13.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game this year. Ohio State is shooting 47.3% from the field, 74% on free throws, and 37.6% on three-pointers this season. 

Washington Huskies Betting Preview

The Washington Huskies are 12-11 (3-9) this year after they defeated Northwestern by a score of 76-71 in their last game. Washington led 39-30 at halftime and they were able to get the win, despite allowing 41 points in the second half. The Huskies shot 52.8% from the field, 36.4% on three-pointers, and 75% on free throws in the game. Tyler Harris led Washington with 18 points and five rebounds, while Great Osobor added 16 points and nine rebounds in the game. 

Prior to that win, the Huskies lost to Nebraska by a score of 86-72 but did beat Minnesota by a score of 71-68 before that. Washington has lost seven of their last nine games and they are currently second to last in the Big Ten standings with a 3-9 record. Washington has scored 71.9 points per game and they have allowed 72.2 points per game, while also averaging 33.8 rebounds and 12.7 assists per game this season. Great Osobor is averaging 15.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game, while Tyler Harris is averaging 12.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game this year. Washington is shooting 44.3% from the field, 67.8% on free throws, and 33.2% on three-pointers this season. Washington will take on Penn State and Rutgers after this game. 

Why Ohio State will beat Washington

• Ohio State has won 17 of its last 18 Wednesday games at Value City Arena at Schottenstein Center.
• Washington has lost five of its last six night games.
• Ohio State has won the first half in each of its last 10 home games against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Ohio State vs Washington Prediction 

Washington comes into this matchup after winning two of their last three games, but they have played poorly in their last two second halves. The Huskies are near the bottom of the conference standings and they are shooting just 44.2% from the field this year. Ohio State has lost two of their last three games, but they are 2-0 in their last two home games. Ohio State is shooting 47.3% from the field this season and they have scored at least 79 points in three of their last five games. Washington completely collapsed in the second half against Nebraska and they nearly did the same against Northwestern, so I like Ohio State to pull away in the second half for the cover. 

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Nebraska Is Heating up

Nebraska is sure heating up heading into this game and they have won three straight games. Over the last three games, they have knocked off Illinois, Oregon, and Washington. In the last game against Washington, they gave up 72 points, but the offense scored 86 points, and that was enough for the 14-point win. The Cornhuskers shot 52.7 percent from the field and 57.9 percent from behind the three-point line. Brice Williams had a huge game putting up 23 points, four rebounds, and two assists. Three different players put up at least 16 points to pace Nebraska. 

Nebraska sits with a 15-8 record overall and they have gone 13-10 against the spread. The over has hit in 11 of the games. Nebraska is averaging 76.1 points while their defense is giving up 71.2 points per game. They like to push the pace, but their defense has been a major problem at times. They do a good job of getting to the line and are averaging 15.74 free throws per game, which is 68th in the league. Brice Williams has been the star of the team, averaging 19.2 points while shooting 47 percent from the field and 36.9 percent from behind the three-point line. 

Why Nebraska Will Beat Ohio State

• Nebraska has won each of its last seven day games against the Big Ten Conference at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Key Game for Ohio State

Ohio State has been super inconsistent as of late, and they need a win here. Over the last three games, Ohio State has picked up two wins and they are coming off a victory in the last game. Ohio State faced off against Maryland, and they were down big at halftime, but they fought back in the second half and were able to pick up the win. Ohio State shot 45.8 percent from the field but only 25 percent from deep. Bruce Thorton put up 31 points, six assists, and five rebounds. Two games ago against Illinois the defense wasn’t good enough and they ended up losing 87-79. 

Ohio State sits with a 14-9 record overall and they have gone 14-9 against the spread. Ohio State is averaging 79.7 points while their defense is giving up 71.3 points per game. They can run up the score, but their defense has been a problem a lot this season. They need the defense to be a whole lot better here. Bruce Thorton is averaging 17.7 points while shooting 52 percent from the field. 

Why Ohio State Will Beat Nebraska

• Ohio State has won seven of its last eight day games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Nebraska has lost three of its last four day games.
• Nebraska has lost the first half in three of its last four day games against the Big Ten Conference.

Nebraska vs Ohio State Prediction

I expect this is going to be a very competitive game and I don’t have a play one way or the other, but I do have a strong play on the total. Both teams have playmakers all over the court, and both teams will score plenty of points. Ohio State is averaging 7.7 points per game and they are going to get out to a fast start. Nebraska is going to keep up with their offense, and this game will be a shootout. This game is going to go over at least 150 points. 

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Big Game for Ohio State

Ohio State is trying to string together some big wins and if they want to make a run at the NCAA Tournament, this is really a game that they need to win. In the last game against Illinois, Ohio State scored 79 points, but the defense gave up 87 points and that led to the defeat. At halftime, they were actually up 42-36 and they looked like they were well on the way to the victory, but in the second half, they fell off. Ohio State shot 37 percent from the field but from deep they were good shooting 47.8 percent from deep.

Ohio State comes into this game with a 13-9 record overall and they have gone 13-9 against the spread. The over has hit in 10 of the 22 games so far this season. Ohio State is averaging 80 points while their defense is giving up 71.4 points per game. The offense is ranked 53rd in the league while the defense is ranked 179th in the league. This game they are going to need to get the offense out to a fast start, but they are also going to need to play a more complete game. Bruce Thorton has been the top player for Ohio State averaging 17.1 points while shooting 51.3 percent from the field and 45.9 percent from behind the three-point line. 

Should Maryland Be Getting More Attention

Maryland probably should be getting more attention as they have stayed hot and now look like they could be one of the better teams in college basketball. Maryland has won four games in a row and the last one was probably most impressive. Maryland put up 76 points against a very good Wisconsin team and that was enough for the victory. Maryland shot 40 percent from the field and 50 percent from deep. It was a balanced attack with all five starters putting up at least 12 points. Rodney Rice was the leader of the squad putting up 16 points, two assists, and one rebound. 

Maryland sits with a 17-5 record overall and they have gone 11-11 against the spread. The over has hit in 13 of the games. Maryland is averaging 83 points, while their defense is giving up 65.5 points per game. The offense is ranked 20th in the league while the defense is ranked 35th. The offense might grab the headlines, but this is a very talented defense, and that’s what might allow them a deep run in March. Center Derik Queen has been the top player for the team putting up 15 points while shooting 53.4 percent from the field.

Why Maryland Will Beat Ohio State

• Maryland has won each of its last four games.
• Ohio State has lost six of its last eight home night games against the Big Ten Conference.

Ohio State vs Maryland Prediction

Yes, Maryland hasn’t been as good of a team on the road, but they are still the better team, especially as the underdog. We are talking about an Ohio State defense that is giving up 71.4 points per game and their defense is going to be a major issue in this game. This Maryland team has a balanced attack and it’s going to be that balanced squad that is going to have no issue running up the score here. Look for another big game from all the starters, and they will come out on top. Back Maryland against the spread. 

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Ohio State Recap

The Ohio State Buckeyes come into this game looking to add on to their 83-64 win over Penn State last time out to improve to 13-8 on the year. After this game, Ohio State will head home for a game against Maryland.

Buckeyes Win Third Straight

Bruce Thornton leads the Buckeyes in scoring with 17 PPG and in assists with 4.1 APG while John Mobley Jr. has 12.6 PPG. Micah Parrish has 11.6 PPG with 4.6 RPG while Devin Royal has 13.9 PPG with a team-high 7.4 RPG to lead Ohio State on the glass and to finish off the group of double-digit scorers for Ohio State up to this point in the year. Meechie Johnson Jr.’s added 9.1 PPG with 2.5 RPG and 2.7 APG and Aaron Bradshaw’s chipped in 7.1 PPG and 2.9 RPG this season. As a team, Ohio State is averaging 80 PPG on 48.2% shooting from the field, 37.3% from three, and 73.4% from the foul line this season.

Why the Ohio State Buckeyes will win

• Ohio State has won each of its last seven day games against the Big Ten Conference.
• Illinois has lost three of its last four games.

Illinois Recap

The Illinois Fighting Illini come into this game looking to bounce back from an 80-74 loss to Nebraska last time out to sit at 14-7 on the year. After this game, Illinois will head on the road to take on Rutgers.

Fighting Illini Lose 3 Of Last 4

Kasparas Jakucionis leads the Illini in scoring and assists with 16 PPG and 5.4 APG along with 5.8 RPG while Tomislav Ivisic has 13 PPG with a team-high 8.5 RPG to lead the Illini in rebounding up to this point in the year, but looks to still be missing time because of mono. Will Riley has 10.4 PPG with 3.6 RPG and Kylan Boswell has 12 PPG with 5.4 RPG and 3.7 APG. Tre White also has 10.2 PPG with 5 RPG to cap off the scoring in double figures for Illinois so far this season and Ben Humrichous has 8.5 PPG as well on the year. Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn also has 8 PPG as well this season. As a team, Illinois is averaging 85.2 PPG on 44.1% shooting from the field, 31.4% from three, and 75.3% from the foul line this season.

Why the Illinois Fighting Illini will win

• Illinois has won 10 of its last 11 day games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Ohio State has lost six of its last eight day games against AP-ranked opponents.

Total Points Facts

• Each of Ohio State’s last 11 games against AP-ranked opponents has produced a total of 152 or fewer points.
• Eight of Illinois’ last nine day games against the Big Ten Conference have produced a total of 157+ points.

Illinois vs Ohio State Prediction

I’m on Ohio State and the points here. I have to say I’m pretty impressed with what Ohio State’s been bringing to the table as of late from a cover perspective, and home court in the Big Ten has not been as strong of an angle in recent weeks. I just feel like this is a 4-point game, something in the ballpark of 79-75 so I’ll take my chances on Ohio State and the points in this one while sprinkling a little bit on Ohio State ML.

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Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Preview

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 13-8 (3-7) this year after they lost to Michigan by a score of 76-72 in their last game. Penn State was tied at 35 at halftime and had a lead in the final minutes of the game, but they were outscored 9-0 to end the game with a loss. The Nittany Lions shot 49% from the field, 47.4% on three-pointers, and 81.3% on free throws in the game. Nick Kern Jr. led Penn State with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Ace Baldwin Jr. added 15 points and six assists in the game. 

Prior to that loss, the Nittany Lions lost to Iowa by a score of 76-75 but did beat Rutgers by a score of 80-72 before that. Penn State has lost six of their last seven games and they are currently near the bottom of the Big Ten standings. Penn State has scored 83.2 points per game and they have allowed 72.1 points per game, while also averaging 35.1 rebounds and 16.9 assists per game this season. Ace Baldwin Jr. is averaging 14.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game, while Nick Kern Jr. is averaging 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game this year. Penn State is shooting 48.8% from the field, 75.9% on free throws, and 34.7% on three-pointers this season. Penn State will face Minnesota and UCLA following this one.

Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Preview

The Ohio State Buckeyes are 12-8 (4-5) this season after they defeated Iowa by a score of 82-65 in their last game. Ohio State led 30-26 at halftime and added 52 points in the second half for the win. The Buckeyes shot 48.4% from the field, 29.6% on three-pointers, and 73.7% on free throws in the game. Micah Parrish led Ohio State with 18 points and six rebounds, while Bruce Thornton added 15 points and eight rebounds in the game. 

Prior to that win, the Buckeyes defeated Purdue by a score of 73-70 but did lose to Indiana by a score of 77-76 before that. Ohio State has lost three of their last five games and they are currently 1.5 games ahead of Penn State in the Big Ten standings. Ohio State has scored 79.9 points per game and they have allowed 71.0 points per game, while also averaging 35.3 rebounds and 13.9 assists per game this season. Bruce Thornton is averaging 17.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, while Devin Royal is averaging 13.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game this year. Ohio State is shooting 48.3% from the field, 73.4% on free throws, and 37.3% on three-pointers this season. Ohio State will meet Illinois after this game.

Why Penn State will beat Ohio State

• The home team has won each of Penn State’s last four games.
• Ohio State has lost 15 of its last 20 night games against the Big Ten Conference.
• The home team has won the first half in each of Ohio State’s last six games.

Penn State vs Ohio State Prediction 

Ohio State comes into this matchup on a two-game winning streak and they have some positive momentum, but they will be on the road for this game. The Buckeyes did win their last road game against Purdue, but they have struggled in their other road games this season. Penn State has lost six of their last seven games, but they have played better than that record would suggest. The Nittany Lions had a late lead on Michigan, lost to Iowa by one, lost to MSU by five, and lost to Oregon by one in their last five games, so they are just a few plays away from having 3-4 more wins. It is never easy to beat Penn State at home and I think they are going to finally close out a game here. Take the Nittany Lions to win at home. 

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Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Preview

The Ohio State Buckeyes are 11-8 (3-5) this year after they defeated Purdue by a score of 73-70 in their last game. Ohio State trailed 41-28 at halftime, but they outscored Purdue 45-29 in the second half for the win. The Buckeyes shot 53.3% from the field, 47.8% on three-pointers, and 82.4% on free throws in the game. Micah Parrish led Ohio State with 22 points and seven rebounds, while Devin Royal added 16 points and six rebounds in the game. 

Prior to that win, the Buckeyes lost to Indiana by a score of 77-76 and Wisconsin by a score of 70-68. Ohio State has lost three of their last four games and they are currently in the middle of the Big Ten standings with a 3-5 record. Ohio State has scored 79.7 points per game and they have allowed 71.3 points per game, while also averaging 34.9 rebounds and 13.8 assists per game this season. Bruce Thornton is averaging 17.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, while Devin Royal is averaging 13.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game this year. Ohio State is shooting 48.3% from the field, 73.4% on free throws, and 37.8% on three-pointers this season. 

Iowa Hawkeyes Betting Preview

The Iowa Hawkeyes are 13-7 (4-5) this season after they defeated Penn State by a score of 76-75 in their last game. Iowa led 43-38 at halftime, but they only scored 33 points in the second half in the win. The Hawkeyes shot 50% from the field, 47.8% on three-pointers, and 60% on free throws in the game. Owen Freeman led Iowa with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Drew Thelwell added 16 points and five rebounds in the win. 

Prior to that game, the Hawkeyes lost to Minnesota by a score of 72-67 and UCLA by a score of 94-70. Iowa has lost three of their last four games and they are currently a half game up on Ohio State in the Big Ten standings. Iowa has scored 86.8 points per game and they have allowed 78.4 points per game, while also averaging 32.4 rebounds and 19.5 assists per game this season. Owen Freeman is averaging 16.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, while Payton Sandfort is averaging 16.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game this year. Iowa is shooting 50.5% from the field, 68.7% on free throws, and 39.1% on three-pointers this season. 

Why Ohio State will beat Iowa

• Ohio State has won each of its last 18 Monday night games.
• Iowa has lost eight of its last nine road night games against the Big Ten Conference.
• Ohio State has won the first half in 23 of its last 24 games at Value City Arena at Schottenstein Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Why Iowa will beat Ohio State

• Ohio State has lost six of its last seven night games against the Big Ten Conference at Value City Arena at Schottenstein Center.
• The road team has won five of Ohio State’s last six games.
• Ohio State has lost the first half in six of its last eight night games against the Big Ten Conference.

Total Points Facts

• Each of Ohio State’s last nine home games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 154 or fewer points.
• Each of Iowa’s last seven road games has produced a total of 164+ points.

Matchup/League Facts

• Ohio State ranks 1st among Division 1 teams for opponent steals per game this season (4.3).
• Ohio State ranks 25th among Division 1 teams for opponent three-point percentage this season (29.2%).
• Iowa ranks 2nd among Division 1 teams for assist-to-turnover ratio this season (1.87).
• Iowa ranks 2nd among Division 1 teams for field goals made per game this season (32.0).

Ohio State vs Iowa Prediction 

Ohio State was able to snap their losing streak with a win over Purdue in their last game and they will be at home for this contest. The Buckeyes are shooting 48.3% from the field this year and they have scored at least 71 points in four of their last five games. Iowa has also lost three of their last four games, but they did beat Penn State last time out. The Hawkeyes are shooting over 50% from the field, but their defense has been atrocious this season. We have seen Iowa allow 94 and 99 points in their last two road games and I think we are going to see another very high-scoring game here. Take the over in this game. 

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Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Preview

The Ohio State Buckeyes lost to Wisconsin and Indiana, and they play Iowa, Penn State, and Illinois next. The Ohio State Buckeyes are averaging 80.1 points on 48 percent shooting and allowing 71.4 points on 39.5 percent shooting. Bruce Thornton is averaging 17.4 points and 2.9 rebounds, while Devin Royal is averaging 13.8 points and 7.4 rebounds. John Mobley Jr. is the third double-digit scorer and Micah Parrish is grabbing 4.5 rebounds. The Ohio State Buckeyes are shooting 37 percent from beyond the arc and 73 percent from the free throw line. The Ohio State Buckeyes are allowing 29 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 31.9 rebounds per game.

Purdue Boilermakers Betting Preview

The Purdue Boilermakers beat Washington and Oregon, and they play Michigan, Indiana, and Iowa next. The Purdue Boilermakers are averaging 77.2 points on 49 percent shooting and allowing 67.4 points on 42.9 percent shooting. Trey Kaufman-Renn is averaging 17.9 points and 6.5 rebounds, while Braden Smith is averaging 15.1 points and 4.6 rebounds. Fletcher Loyer is the third double-digit scorer and Daniel Jacobson is grabbing 3.5 rebounds. The Purdue Boilermakers are shooting 38.5 percent from beyond the arc and 72.2 percent from the free throw line. The Purdue Boilermakers are allowing 30.3 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 30.4 rebounds per game.

Purdue vs Ohio State Injury Report

Purdue won’t have Daniel Jacobsen for the rest of the season. Ohio State will be without Meechie Johnson Jr., while Devin Royal and Braylen Nash are questionable.

Purdue vs Ohio State Prediction

The Ohio State Buckeyes have lost each of their last three games, and that includes losses to Indiana and Utah in their favorite role. The Purdue Boilermakers are 6-0 SU and ATS in their last six games. Purdue has allowed less than 70 points in seven straight games and just beat the Oregon team on the road that Ohio State lost to at home. Sports math isn’t something you should factor into your capping all the time, but it’s just another indication of Purdue being a tier or two above Ohio State this season. Purdue is also 9-0 SU at home. Give me Purdue in a home beatdown in a Big Ten clash on Tuesday night. 

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Ohio State Keeps Falling Short

Three games ago against Minnesota, it took overtime to come away with a one-point victory over Minnesota. Two games ago against Oregon, Ohio State was defeated 73-71 and in the last game against Wisconsin, they were defied 70-68. In the second half, they outscored Wisconsin 48-33 but that led to the defeat. Ohio State shot 42.4 percent from the field and 29.4 percent from behind the three-point line. Bruce Thorton had another strong game putting up 21 points, three assists, and two rebounds. 

Ohio State on the season is averaging 80.4 points while their defense is giving up 71.1 points per game. The offense is ranked 66th in the league while the defense is ranked 173rd. They are shooting 48.2 percent from the field which is 45th in the league. They are shooting 37.09 percent from behind the three-point line which is 47th in the league. Bruce Thorton has been the top player, averaging 17.4 points while shooting 53.1 percent from the field. Ohio State will meet Purdue and Iowa after this game. 

Why Ohio State Will Beat Indiana

• Ohio State has won 22 of its last 25 games at Value City Arena at Schottenstein Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Indiana has lost the first half in six of its last seven games at Value City Arena at Schottenstein Center.

Indiana is in Trouble

Indiana is in trouble and it’s never good when the student section is chanting for the coach to be fired. In the last game, Indiana faced off against Illinois in the last game and they scored 69 points, but the defense gave up 94 points and that led to the defeat. Indiana shot 38.5 percent from the field and 22.2 percent from behind the three-point line. Oumar Ballo was the top player putting up 16 points, 15 rebounds, and one assist. 

Indiana is averaging 77.5 points while their defense is giving up 72.3 points per game. The offense is ranked 116th in the league while the defense is ranked 218th. They are shooting 46.7 percent from the field. Oumar Bello has been the top player for the Hoosiers, averaging 14.1 points while shooting 67.9 percent from the field. There are four different players that are averaging at least 12.3 points per game. 

Ohio State vs Indiana Prediction

Ohio State is going to have no issue running up the score enough and even though the last couple of games have been close, they are going to find success here. Indiana is averaging 77.5 points per game, but their defense is going to struggle here, and that is going to be the difference here. Indiana’s offense isn’t going to be good enough here, and Ohio State will get the job done here. 

Read the rest of "Ohio State vs Indiana Prediction 1/17/25 College Basketball Picks Today" at Sports Chat Place

Before we dive into the Indiana Hoosiers vs. Ohio State Buckeyes game let’s review the rules for Draftkings single game showdown contest.

Draftkings Single Game Showdown Contest Rules

You have $50,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team captain. The captain accumulates 1.5 times the standard fantasy points. Additionally, the captain is 1.5 times the standard cost of the flex position.

The remaining four players in your lineup will receive the standard fantasy points. Having stated that, it is highly important for you to identify the correct player for your captain position if you hope to win a large field DFS GPP (guaranteed prize pool) showdown contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single game showdown contest, I recommend that you check out the Draftkings website for more details.

*I recommend that all readers review the starting lineups for both teams prior to setting your DFS lineup for this one game slate.

Here are my Draftkings picks for this tomorrow evening’s Indiana Hoosiers vs. Ohio State Buckeyes matchup.

Draftkings NCAA College Basketball Picks

Captain-Bruce Thornton, Guard, Ohio State Buckeyes $11,000

Guard Bruce Thornton has certainly been a solid player for the Ohio State Buckeyes this season. With that said, how has the talented young guard performed from a statistical perspective in 2024? Let’s review Bruce Thornton’s game data from the 2024 NCAA regular season to answer that question.

In the 17 games that guard Bruce Thornton has played for the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Thornton is averaging a robust 17.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.1 steals a game.

Looking closer at the data just presented, in the 17 games that Bruce Thornton has played for the Ohio State Buckeyes this season, Thornton has compiled a field goal percentage of 53.1%, a three-point percentage of 37.5% and a free throw percentage of 81.2%.

More recently, in the Wisconsin Badgers 70-68 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes two days ago, Bruce Thornton played exceptionally well. More specifically, Thornton accumulated a massive 21 points, two rebounds, three assists and one steal in the Badgers victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Examining the data just presented more closely, in the Wisconsin Badgers win over the Buckeyes, Bruce Thornton tallied 30.1 Draftkings points.

As I noted in the rules section above, selecting the correct player at the captain position for a Draftkings NCAA showdown lineup is absolutely vital if you hope to win a large field GPP (guaranteed prize pool) DFS contest. Keep that in mind as you construct your lineups for this one game Draftkings slate.

In my view, Bruce Thornton is the most likely player to post the most Draftkings points in tomorrow evening’s NCAA regular season game. Having stated that, I am backing Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton at the captain position for this one game Draftkings NCAA Showdown contest.

Flex Plays

Devin Royal, Forward, Ohio State Buckeyes $10,000

In the 17 games that forward Devin Royal has played for the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2024 NCAA regular season, Royal is averaging 13.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.5 blocks a game.

Additional flex plays I like to perform well in this game (Draftkings price noted): Myles Rice, Guard (Indiana Hoosiers) $8,600: Oumar Ballo, Forward (Indiana Hoosiers) $11,800.

Read the rest of "Draftkings NCAA Basketball Picks: Indiana vs. Ohio State 1/17/25" at Sports Chat Place

Notre Dame Fighting Irish Betting Preview

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are 14-1 this year after they defeated Penn State by a score of 27-24 in their last game. Notre Dame trailed 10-0 in the second quarter and 24-17 in the fourth, but they scored the last 10 points in the game for the win. The Fighting Irish out gained Penn State by a total of 384-339, lost the turnover battle 2-1, and went 11-17 on third down in the game. Riley Leonard threw for 223 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, while Jaden Greathouse caught seven passes for 105 yards and one touchdown in the win. 

Prior to that win, the Fighting Irish defeated Georgia by a score of 23-10 and Indiana by a score of 27-17. Notre Dame has won 13 games in a row and they have scored at least 27 points in all 13 wins. The Notre Dame offense has scored 38.5 points per game with 194.3 passing yards and 210.8 rushing yards per game, while the defense has allowed 14.3 points against per game this year. Riley Leonard has completed 66.4% of his passes for 2,606 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, while Jeremiyah Love has rushed for 1,122 yards and 17 scores this year. 

Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Preview

The Ohio State Buckeyes are 13-2 (7-2) this season after they defeated Texas by a score of 28-14 in their last game. Ohio State led 14-7 at halftime, but they led 21-14 with about three minutes left and Texas on the one yard line, before forcing a fumble and returning it for a touchdown to seal the game. The Buckeyes out gained Texas by a total of 370-341, won the turnover battle 2-1, and went 3-10 on third down in the game. Will Howard threw for 289 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, while Carnell Tate caught seven passes for 87 yards in the game. 

Prior to that win, the Buckeyes defeated Oregon by a score of 41-21 and Tennessee by a score of 42-17. Ohio State has won eight of their last nine games, with the lone loss coming in that underwhelming performance against Michigan. As weird as it is to say, that loss to Michigan might have been the best thing to happen to Ohio State, as they have been nearly perfect since that game. The OSU offense has scored 37.4 points per game with 265.1 passing yards and 163.2 rushing yards per game, while the defense has allowed 12.2 points against per game this season. Will Howard has completed 3,779 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, while Jeremiah Smith has caught 71 passes for 1,227 yards and 14 scores this year. 

Why Notre Dame will beat Ohio State

• Notre Dame has won each of its last 13 games.
• Notre Dame has covered the spread in each of its last 11 games.
• Ohio State has failed to cover the spread in four of its last five games against teams with an AP Ranking of 3.
• Notre Dame has won the first quarter in three of its last four games against opponents from the Big Ten Conference.

Total Points Facts

• Each of Notre Dame’s last four Bowl games have gone OVER the total points line.
• Five of Ohio State’s last six Bowl games as a favorite have gone UNDER the total points line.

Matchup/League Facts

• Notre Dame ranks 2nd among FBS teams for points allowed per game this season (14.3).
• Notre Dame ranks 2nd among FBS teams for H1 opponent points per game this season (6.5).
• Ohio State ranks 1st among FBS teams for points allowed per game this season (12.2).
• Ohio State ranks 1st among FBS teams for Q3 opponent points per game this season (1.5).

Notre Dame vs Ohio State Prediction 

Ohio State comes into this matchup as a pretty big favorite for a National Championship game, but they have looked very good over their last three games. The Buckeyes held a high-powered Texas offense to just 14 points in their last game and their offense is playing their best ball of the season. Notre Dame struggled to get by Penn State, a team that Ohio State also defeated, but they also have a great defense. The Fighting Irish will need Leonard to make some plays through the air in order to keep this game close, but I do think Notre Dame can copy the defensive game plan from Texas last week and find success. Take the points with Notre Dame here. 

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Ohio State Recap

The Ohio State Buckeyes come into this game looking to bounce back from a 73-71 loss to Oregon last time out to fall to 10-6 on the year. After this game, Ohio State will head home to take on Indiana.

Buckeyes Looking For Consistency

Bruce Thornton leads the Buckeyes in scoring with 17.1 PPG and in assists with 4.4 APG while John Mobley Jr. has 12.2 PPG. Micah Parrish has 10.2 PPG with 4.4 RPG while Devin Royal has 13.9 PPG with a team-high 7.4 RPG to lead Ohio State on the glass and to finish off the group of double-digit scorers for Ohio State up to this point in the year. Meechie Johnson Jr.’s added 9.1 PPG with 2.5 RPG and 2.7 APG and Aaron Bradshaw’s chipped in 8 PPG and 3.7 RPG this season. As a team, Ohio State is averaging 81.1 PPG on 48.6% shooting from the field, 37.7% from three, and 72.1% from the foul line this season.

Why the Ohio State Buckeyes will win

• The road team has won each of Ohio State’s last three games.

Wisconsin Recap

The Wisconsin Badgers come into this one looking to add on to an 80-59 win over Minnesota last time out to improve to 13-3 on the year. After this game, the Badgers will head on the road to take on USC.

Badgers Win 5^th In A Row

John Tonje leads the Badgers in scoring with 18.3 PPG along with 5.2 RPG while John Blackwell has 15.4 PPG with 4.7 RPG and 2.4 APG. Nolan Winter has 11 PPG with 6.1 RPG to lead the Badgers in rebounding while Max Klesmit has 10.5 PPG with a team-high 3 APG to lead the Badgers in the assist department up to this point in the year. Steven Crowl has 10.3 PPG with 5.6 RPG to cap off the scoring in double figures for Wisconsin so far this season. As a team, Wisconsin is averaging 83.1 PPG on 46.7% shooting from the field, 35.4% from behind the three-point line, and 85.1% from the foul line so far this season.

Why the Wisconsin Badgers will win

• Wisconsin has won 24 of its last 25 games at Kohl Center against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Ohio State has lost eight of its last nine road games following a home loss.

Total Points Facts

• Each of the last 11 games between Ohio State and Wisconsin has produced a total of 146 or fewer points.
• Each of Ohio State’s last five games against AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 150 or fewer points.

Wisconsin vs Ohio State Prediction

I’m with Wisconsin in this one. The Badgers have been slowly starting to crush it and maybe it feels a bit under the radar, but the Badgers finally have what it’s felt like this team has lacked for the better part of the last few seasons, and that’s top-tier balance on both ends of the floor. More often than not, this Badgers team would play sound fundamental, and defensive-minded basketball, but now, the offense is loading up and putting up points in bunches. Ohio State’s had its big moments here and there, but the Buckeyes also tend to leave a lot to be desired at times, especially on the road, and I think that Wisconsin takes care of business at home to snag the win and cover here.

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