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The Ohio State Buckeyes (7-4) and the No. 4 Kentucky Wildcats (10-1) meet Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. ET (CBS). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college basketball odds around the Ohio State vs. Kentucky odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
Ohio State rolled up a 95-73 win against Valparaiso last time out on Tuesday, covering as a 21.5-point favorite at most shops as the Over (150.5) connected. Despite the win over Valpo, the Buckeyes are 2-3 straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) in the previous 5 outings. The Under has hit in 3 of 4 games, too.
Kentucky topped rival Louisville 93-85 at home Dec. 14, but the Wildcats failed to cash as a 10-point favorite. The Wildcats have won 10 of 11 games this season, but UK is a dismal 1-5 ATS in the past 6 games. The Over and Under have alternated in the past 7 outings.
The last time these teams met was Dec. 21, 2019, a 71-65 Ohio State win as a 3.5-point favorite at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas as the Over (132) cashed.
– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll
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Ohio State vs. Kentucky odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college basketball odds. Lines last updated at 10:05 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Ohio State +260 (bet $100 to win $260) | Kentucky -350 (bet $350 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Ohio State +7.5 (-110) | Kentucky -7.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 160.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Ohio State vs. Kentucky picks and predictions
Prediction
Kentucky 86, Ohio State 73
Moneyline
Kentucky (-350) will cost you 3½ times your potential return, and that’s way too expensive for a standalone bet or as part of a multi-leg parlay.
On the flip side, Ohio State (+260) cannot be trusted after dropping 3 of the past 5 games, including a 38-point loss against Auburn in its most recent battle against an SEC opponent.
PASS.
Against the spread
KENTUCKY -7.5 (-110) is the play.
The Wildcats are a risky play, as Kentucky has covered just once in the past 6 games. However, that cover was a 90-89 OT victory in Seattle as a 6-point underdog against Gonzaga. Kentucky is 2-0 SU/ATS in its 2 games on a neutral floor this season.
On the flip side, Ohio State +7.5 (-110) has covered just twice in the past 5 games, with 2 losses by 24 or more points in the past 2 outings off campus.
Over/Under
UNDER 160.5 (-115) is worth a look, but go with a half-unit play at most.
The Under has cashed in 3 of the past 4 games for the Buckeyes, who are averaging just 56.0 points per game in the past 2 non-home contests.
For the Wildcats, the Over and Under have alternated in the past 7 games, with the Over hitting last time out.
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