The Penn State Nittany Lions (8-6, 3-3 Big Ten) and No. 15 Ohio State Buckeyes (10-4, 4-2) tee it up Sunday at noon ET at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Below, we look at the Penn State vs. Ohio State odds and lines and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Penn State is coming off a 66-49 win over Rutgers Tuesday for its third win in its last four games. Pace numbers peg PSU as the slowest-tempo team in the Big Ten and rate figures reveal the Lions to have significant problems in forcing turnovers and getting to the free-throw line.
The Buckeyes defeated Penn State 76-64 Dec. 5 but went on a COVID-19-induced hiatus not too long afterward. OSU is just 2-2 since returning. The Buckeyes figure as a medium-tempo squad and one that also struggles to create turnovers, but OSU is a better shooting team than PSU — both inside and outside the arc.
Penn State at Ohio State odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:20 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Penn State +360 (bet $100 to win $360) | Ohio State -500 (bet $500 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Penn State +9.5 (-112) | Ohio State -9.5 (-108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 136.5 (O: -107 | U: -115)
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Penn State at Ohio State odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Ohio State 74, Penn State 64
Money line
Ohio State has had some trouble getting back in its November-December groove since its COVID hiatus. Still, the Buckeyes have logged a solid analytic profile against slow-tempo teams, but the price here is just too far off the rails: PASS.
Against the spread
The Buckeyes are 5-1 ATS in their last six games following an ATS loss.
In the December meeting in Happy Valley, Ohio State opened an 8-point lead by the midway point of the first half and held an 8-12 point lead just about every moment the rest of the way.
OSU is 23-15 ATS over its last 38 home games, and that’s the key in this one: the venue gives Ohio State a solid edge. Look for the Buckeyes to have a better day on the boards than they did last month. Even with a dip in shooting — OSU went 12-for-27 from distance in the December meeting — Ohio State is a decent value here.
BACK THE BUCKEYES -9.5 (-108).
Over/Under
The Over is 7-1 in the Buckeyes’ last eight games as a favorite and has cashed in six straight PSU-OSU games (the margin in covering was 10 or more points in each).
Ohio State sports a top-15 offense. Both teams have slightly upped their pace over recent games. The lean is on the OVER 136.5 (-107), but it’s a slight lean.
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