Northwestern at Ohio State odds, picks and prediction

Analyzing Sunday’s Northwestern Wildcats at Ohio State Buckeyes odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The Northwestern Wildcats (8-4, 1-2 Big Ten) and No. 12 Ohio State Buckeyes (9-3, 3-1) clash Sunday for a Big Ten showdown in Columbus, Ohio. Tip-off from Value City Arena is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Northwestern 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.

Northwestern is coming off back-to-back home losses and is visiting Columbus to mark its first road game since Dec. 5. The Wildcats have logged January losses to Michigan State and Penn State, both of which were decided by two or fewer possessions. Northwestern is 1-4 in games that have been decided by that close of a margin this season.

The Buckeyes faltered in a 67-51 loss at Indiana Thursday. Ohio State shot just 30.8% from the floor in having a five-game win streak snapped. OSU is 6-0 at home this season. Among those half-dozen wins is a 71-66 conquest of current No. 2 Duke Nov. 30.

Northwestern 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: Northwestern +270 (bet $100 to win $270) | Ohio State -360 (bet $360 to win $100)
  • Against the spread (ATS): Northwestern +7.5 (-108) | Ohio State -7.5 (-112)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 139.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)

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Northwestern at Ohio State odds, lines, picks and predictions

Prediction

Ohio State 75, Northwestern 67

Money line

PASS.

Against the spread

The favorite is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings between OSU and NU and the Buckeyes are 4-1 ATS in their last five games following an ATS loss.

Ohio State is back at home where it has registered impressive wins over Duke and Wisconsin. The Buckeyes are on a solid trend line overall, and they have an edge in athleticism in this one.

This game is a tough ask for a Wildcat team playing its first road game in over a month. NU takes care of the basketball, but look for OSU’s 3-point shooting to be enough of a difference-maker…just barely. BACK THE BUCKEYES -7.5 (-112).

Over/Under

OSU plays a slow-down style, but the Over is 8-4 across the Buckeyes’ 12 games and it’s 6-1 in the Ohio State’s last seven games as a favorite.

Buckeye three-pointers and trips to the foul line will add up to a cushion here, and this is likely the top play in this contest: TAKE THE OVER 139.5 (-115).

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Big Ten Championship Game: Northwestern vs. Ohio State odds, picks and prediction

Previewing Saturday’s Big Ten Championship Game between the Northwestern Wildcats and Ohio State Buckeyes, with college football betting picks, tips and predictions.

The Northwestern Wildcats (6-1) will clash with the Ohio State Buckeyes (5-0) in the Big Ten Championship Game Saturday at noon ET. The contest between the East Division champion Buckeyes and West Division champion Wildcats will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. Below, we analyze the Northwestern-Ohio State college football betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.

Ohio State is No. 4 in the Amway Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports. Northwestern is ranked No. 14.

Northwestern vs. Ohio State: Betting odds, spread and lines

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 8:15 a.m. ET.

  • Money line: Northwestern +680 (bet $100 to win $680) | Ohio State -1100 (bet $1,100 to win $100)
  • Against the spread/ATS: Northwestern +20 (-105) | Ohio State -20 (-115)
  • Over/Under: 56.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Northwestern vs. Ohio State: Three things to know

  1. The Wildcats’ 14.6 points per game allowed is a stingy total ranking second in the nation. In yardage measures, Northwestern ranks 21st in FBS against both the run (121.9 yards per game) and the pass (192.0 YPG).
  2. Ohio State’s 46.6 PPG on offense ranks fourth in the nation. OSU’s ground game (251.0 YPG) ranks seventh. The Buckeyes’ 281.4 passing yards per game rank 24th. QB Justin Fields has thrown 56 touchdown passes in his 19-game Ohio State career. He has also scored 15 rushing TDs with OSU.
  3. OSU and NU also met in the Big Ten title game two years ago (Dec. 1, 2018). The Buckeyes won that game 45-24. The Bucks and ‘Cats met in the 2019 regular season in Evanston, Ill., with OSU winning 52-3.

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Northwestern vs. Ohio State: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks

Prediction

Ohio State 48, Northwestern 17

Money line (ML)

Peg the true odds on both sides as being well-bracketed by a wide berth in these figures. PASS.

Against the spread (ATS)

The Buckeyes may still be dealing with some COVID-19 player unavailability, but the talent on the field can still dominate in every phase of the game. OSU’s stutter-start-and-stop schedule of late is a bit of a concern, especially for the passing game, but the way the Bucks handled their Michigan State game (52-12 road win two weeks back) chips away at that concern adequately.

Northwestern has been dinged by running quarterbacks, and Fields will be the best the Wildcats have seen by a healthy measure. Look for a drop-seven-or-eight style to challenge the Ohio State passing game, especially in the red zone. Ultimately, expect a tremendously efficient OSU offense to get its points.

Figure on healthy respect between the head coaches and maybe a sluggish afternoon for Buckeyes running backs factoring into some four-score game-control stuttering but THERE IS CERTAINLY VALUE IN OHIO STATE -20 (-115).

Over/Under (O/U)

There is a lot of defensive talent on both sides in this one. What wins out in the lean on the total is the 70-degree living-room climate, the speed carpet, and the modern game in general. BACK THE OVER 56.5 (-110).

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