The Milwaukee Panthers (18-8, 12-4 Horizon) and Youngstown State Penguins (18-8, 12-4) meet Thursday in a key Horizon League showdown. Tip-off at the Beeghly Center is at 7 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Milwaukee vs. Youngstown State odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
Milwaukee, which shares the Horizon lead with YSU, is coming off an 80-77 overtime Saturday against Oakland, but failed to cover as 3.5-point home favorite. The 80 points were nothing new for an up-tempo Panthers team which averages 78.6 points per game (36th in NCAA-I).
The Penguins are looking to flip the script from an 88-75 loss at Milwaukee Jan. 21 as a 3.5-point underdog. Youngstown State has gone 5-1 since and 3-3 against the spread (ATS). The Penguins have won 6 straight games at home.
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Milwaukee at Youngstown State odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:22 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Milwaukee +350 (bet $100 to win $350) | Youngstown State -500 (bet $500 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Milwaukee +9.5 (-105) | Youngstown State -9.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 156.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Milwaukee at Youngstown State picks and predictions
Prediction
Youngstown State 79, Milwaukee 70
Moneyline
PASS. Simply, YSU is unplayable at this line.
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Against the spread
The Panthers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games against opponents playing .600 basketball. The underdog is 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings of this series.
YSU has a much more efficient offense, but the Penguins have been off their game of late from 3-point range. Milwaukee may be able to get some 2nd-chance looks at a decent rate, and perhaps the Panthers get this game to the shore with a single-digit deficit. They are the lean here. But a bigger cushion would be required — perhaps a +10.5 spread — to push the lean into action.
PASS.
Over/Under
Youngstown State heads into this game off an 81-78 setback against Cleveland State Sunday. The Under is 5-0 in the Penguins’ last 5 games following an ATS loss. Look for the more moderate pace of the Penguins to hold sway in this match-up. BACK THE UNDER 156.5 (-105).
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