Penn State +7.5 @ OHIO STATE, 7 pm on ESPN
Pick: Ohio State -7.5
You’d think looking at these two teams that this would be a spectacular matchup. Both universities are known for being powerhouses in football. In basketball? Well that’s a different story.
The Buckeyes (14-7, 4-6) are on the bubble in Joe Lunardi’s bracket. C.J. Jackson has brought veteran leadership to the Buckeyes and has respectable numbers across the board (13 PPG, 4 APG, 4 RPG). Rising star, Kaleb Wesson leads the team in scoring with 15 PPG and rebounds with 6.7 RPG. Coach Chris Holtmann has described Wesson as a “bright spot” for the Buckeyes this season despite his limited minutes. The Buckeyes have provided a solid front on defense giving up 65.1 PPG which is good for 34th in the nation.
The Nittany Lions (8-14, 1-10, unlike the Buckeyes, are very much out of making the tournament. They’ve struggled mightily although Lamar Stevens has shown flashes of brilliance averaging 18.9 PPG and 7.7 RPG. Josh Reaves always has his hands on the ball and leads the Big Ten in steals averaging 2.5 per game.
The Buckeyes as a home favorite have been 4-7-0 ATS this season. The Nittany Lions have been 3-4-0 ATS as the away team. I’m picking the Buckeyes for two reasons: Penn State is one of the worst shooting teams in the country, especially for a major conference team, and the home Buckeyes need a Big Ten win badly.