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It has been a frustrating season for both the Indiana Hoosiers and Ohio State Buckeyes, a pair of perennial Big Ten contenders who are closer to the cellar this season. With the NCAA tournament seemingly out of reach for either one, they will face off this week in a game low on hype.
The regular season finale shuts the door on one aspect of the season, although both has a few games still to be played in the postseason. Ohio State has been slightly better this season and will play this game at home, so it stands to reason the Buckeyes will be the favorites.
Indiana has struggled badly of late as a season which had some hope early on has gone south.
At 12 p.m. ET, tune into ESPN for live television coverage of this NCAA basketball game on Saturday, March 4, 2017, at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
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Odds at BookMaker.eu
The Buckeyes are 17-13 straight up and just 11-17 against the spread, which illustrates that they have not lived up to expectations. Ohio State has played in 16 home games on the season and covered in seven of them. The Buckeyes are only 5-11 against the spread as the favorite on the year.
Indiana is 16-14 straight up and 12-15-1 against the spread. The Hoosiers have played in nine road games this season and have only gone 2-6-1 attempting to cover in those contests. Indiana is 4-5-1 against the spread as the underdog.
Player to Watch
Jay’Sean Tate -- The Ohio State junior forward hit a lay-up with three seconds remaining last time out to help the Buckeyes stave off an upset bid by Penn State. It was the team’s second straight win and it will aim for three in a row in this one against the Hoosiers.
Tate is the Buckeyes’ leading scorer, averaging 14.0 points per game while adding 6.4 rebounds. He is shooting 54.5 percent from the field on the season so Ohio State would be well-served to give him the ball as he is efficient around the hoop.
Tate had 12 points and nine rebounds in the win over Penn State and he had 15 points and 12 rebounds in an upset of Wisconsin the game prior. He is one of the key players that Indiana must slow down in this matchup.
Key Stat
Two. That’s the number of wins the Hoosiers have secured in their past 10 outings, going from the March Madness bubble to out of the picture. They began the year with wins over Kansas and North Carolina during the non-conference season but soon lost that momentum and have never been able to pick it back up.
Indiana is only 6-11 in Big Ten play, failing to deliver on the promise of early in the season. During this stretch, the Hoosiers have fallen to Michigan twice, Purdue twice, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. Three of the losses have been by five points or less, but that’s of little consolation.
Indiana’s only wins during this stretch have come against Northwestern and Penn State. The Hoosiers want to finish the season strong but it looks like it will be too little, too late unless they can make a miraculous conference tournament run.
Free College Basketball ATS Picks
Ohio State has been playing better than Indiana of late and while it might not have as much talent, the Hoosiers have failed to put it all together this season. The Buckeyes should be able to remain hot by picking up this home win to wrap up a disappointing regular season for both squads.
While Ohio State should win, it may be close, so keep an eye out for the spread.
College Basketball Odds: Ohio State 74, Indiana 72
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