There have been a lot of speed bumps for the Ohio State Buckeyes this season, and they’ll need to turn it on down the stretch to have a shot at making the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. They face a crucial game against the Iowa Hawkeyes this week.
Ohio State is the superior team but must hit the road for this matchup, so pulling out a win won’t be easy. Iowa has lost three in a row and is aiming to break this lull against the Buckeyes. The Hawkeyes have several big wins at home already on the season and would love to add another.
Don't miss the hardwood action from Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 28, 2017. Catch every moment of the game live on ESPN2.
We'll have NCAA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the college basketball Saturday schedule.
Odds at BookMaker.eu
Ohio State is 12-8 straight up and 7-11 against the spread. The Buckeyes have played in six true road games this season and have only covered in two of them. Ohio State is likely to be the favorite in this one. It is 4-8 against the spread as the favorite this season.
Iowa is 11-9 straight up and 6-10-1 against the spread. The Hawkeyes have played at home 10 times on the season, covering five times and pushing once among those contests. Iowa is 4-5 against the spread as the underdog.
Key Stat
Three. That’s how many losses in a row Iowa has suffered, and how many wins Ohio State has in its past four games as the teams are going in opposite directions. The Buckeyes have traditionally been one of the better teams in the Big Ten but have fallen on hard times this season.
If they are to make March Madness, they really need to finish strong. Ohio State has yet to beat a ranked team this year despite coming close, losing to No. 6 Virginia by two points and No. 20 Purdue by one.
With that in mind, Ohio State will need to keep winning down the stretch. The Buckeyes are still among the worst teams, record-wise, in the conference and have to catch fire or else they will be watching the NCAA Tournament from their couch.
Player to Watch
Trevor Thompson -- The Ohio State junior forward had a mostly non-descript first two college seasons, but is really exploding onto the scene lately.
Thompson is averaging 10.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game and has seen his minutes increase of late. He is shooting 59 percent from the field and becoming a force on both sides of the court.
Thompson had 19 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks last time out in a win over Northwestern and Iowa must find a way to keep him in check. While Thompson is only Ohio State’s fourth-leading scorer, he has transformed into one of its most key pieces.
Free College Basketball ATS Picks
Ohio State is entering a crucial stretch, with a game against ranked Maryland and then one against rival Michigan coming up. The Buckeyes have to really excel down the stretch to turn some heads, and win their fair share of games on the road.
Iowa has home wins over ranked foes Purdue and Iowa State on the resume, but has also been blown out in several games against high-major foes. The Hawkeyes have the ability to defend their home court, but it seems like Ohio State has finally found a groove.
While the Buckeyes aren’t great this season, they are better than the record would indicate. Choose Ohio State to go on the road and grab a much-needed victory over Iowa.
College Basketball Odds: Ohio State 79, Iowa 75
BookMaker.eu offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker.eu!
