The Ohio State Buckeyes suffered their first loss in Big Ten play and have fallen a game behind Purdue in the conference standings. In order to have a shot at the regular season title they can’t afford many slip-ups the rest of the way. The Buckeyes will host the Indiana Hoosiers this week in a game they should be able to win rather easily.
Indiana is one of the most recognizable programs in the country but is experiencing a down season and is unlikely to make the NCAA Tournament. The Hoosiers will really need to play well if they have any chance of securing an unlikely upset.
This war on the floor will go down Tuesday, January 30, 2018, at 7 p.m. ET at Value City Arena. This game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
We'll have NCAA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the college basketball Tuesday schedule.
Odds Analysis
Indiana is 12-9 straight up and 10-9-2 against the spread. The Hoosiers are just 1-5-1 against the spread on the road this season. Indiana has only gone 2-6-1 against the spread as the underdog so it will aim to buck the trend in both of these situations.
The Buckeyes are 18-5 straight up and 11-10 against the spread. Ohio State has covered in five of 12 attempts at home. The Buckeyes are 9-8 against the spread as the favorite. Fifteen of Indiana’s 21 games have gone “under” the scoring total, which is something to keep in mind what that is revealed.
Key Stat
3. That’s the number of ranked teams in a row Indiana is in the midst of facing in the tough Big Ten. They began the stretch against the No. 3 ranked Purdue Boilermakers. The Hoosiers were able to keep the game close throughout but succumbed late in a 74-67 loss.
It was a good sign that they were able to remain competitive, but that was at home. Ohio State gets this one in its gym, which will make life much tougher on Indiana. The Buckeyes are ranked No. 13 in the nation and have played like one of the best teams in the country of late.
The Hoosiers will follow this one up by facing off against the No. 6 Michigan State Spartans. Indiana is 5-5 in Big Ten play, which is solid considering its struggles in the non-conference campaign, but getting another win during this three-game stretch won’t be easy.
Player To Watch
Keita Bates-Diop — Ohio State has put together a solid year and is led by its junior forward. Bates-Diop is averaging 19.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, shooting 50.9 percent from the field.
Bates-Diop was a solid contributor the past two seasons and has taken another step forward this year. He did all he could in last game’s loss to Penn State, scoring 25 points, although the team fell short.
Bates-Diop has really improved his free throw shooting this season, which is a big help in aiding his scoring total as he is converting on the easy chances.
Free NCAA Men’s Basketball ATS Picks
Indiana has been playing better of late, but a road game against a superior team is not a good combination. The Buckeyes should bounce back and take care of business in this one in front of their fans.
The spread is likely to be pretty substantial, so take a close look at it. The Hoosiers may be able to hang around close enough to cover if the oddsmakers give the Buckeyes too much credit. These teams are both decent on offense but not overwhelming, so the scoring total should be pretty standard.
If Ohio State’s defense can step up, the “under” is a consideration.
NCAA Men’s Basketball Odds: Ohio State 77, Indiana 67
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