The Ohio State Buckeyes (14-18) battle the Iowa Hawkeyes (19-12) in the 2nd round of the Big Ten Tournament Thursday. Tip from United Center in Chicago is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Ohio State vs. Iowa odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Ohio State knocked off Wisconsin 65-57 to cover as a 1.5-point underdog Wednesday in the 1st round. The Buckeyes are 12-20 against the spread (ATS) this season but have covered the spread in their last 4 games.
Iowa fell to Nebraska 81-77 while failing to cover as a 12.5-point home favorite in its final regular-season game Sunday. The loss snapped a 2-game winning streak. The Hawkeyes are 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games and 17-14 ATS this season.
This will be the 3rd meeting this season with each team winning on its home court and the Over hitting in both games. OSU won 93-77 Jan. 21 as a 3.5-point favorite and Iowa won 92-75 as a 7.5-point favorite on Feb. 16.
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Ohio State vs. Iowa odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:09 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Ohio State +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Iowa -140 (bet $140 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Ohio State +2.5 (-110) | Iowa -2.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 153.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Ohio State vs. Iowa picks and predictions
Prediction
Iowa 82, Ohio State 70
Moneyline
PASS.
Backing Iowa on the spread below is my preference compared to laying -140 on the moneyline.
Against the spread
BET IOWA -2.5 (-110).
While the Buckeyes have played well recently, they fell apart in the 2nd half against Wisconsin Wednesday, allowing the Badgers to overcome a 27-point deficit to bring the game within 6 in the closing minutes. The Buckeyes are just 3-10 ATS this season when playing as the underdog and 0-6 ATS in their last 6 Thursday games.
Iowa is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 Thursday games and 2-1 ATS in its last 3 games. Expect the Hawkeyes offense, ranked 17th in the nation at 80.6 in points per game, to overwhelm the Buckeyes defense for a victory.
The favorite is 8-3 ATS in the last 11 meetings between these 2 teams.
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Over/Under
LEAN UNDER 153.5 (-105).
The Under is 5-0 in the Hawkeyes’ last 5 neutral site games and 2-1-1 in the Buckeyes’ last 4 games overall.
As it stands, 153.5 points ties for the highest closing line in the Buckeyes’ last 10 games and tied for the 4th-highest total in the Hawkeyes’ last 10 games.
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