[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]
The Ohio State Buckeyes (9-5, 1-2 Big Ten) and Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-6) tangle Monday in Minneapolis. The opening tip at Williams Arena will be at 9 p.m. ET (FS1). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college basketball odds around the Ohio State vs. Minnesota odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
A solid-at-both-ends Ohio State team has averaged 86.3 points per game (PPG), while allowing 72.5 over its last 4 contests. That stretch includes games against the current-No. 11 Kentucky Wildcats (85-65 win as 8-point underdog Dec. 21) and the current-No. 15 Michigan State Spartans (69-62 loss as 2.5-point favorite Friday). The Friday contest was OSU’s last, and the loss snapped a 3-game win streak.
Minnesota last played on Thursday when it fell at home to the current-No. 22 Purdue Boildermakers 81-61. The Golden Gophers went toe-to-toe with the favored-by-5.5 Boilermakers for 25 minutes, but they were undone by a pair of 7-0 runs by the visitors and were eventually routed by the 20-point margin. In what continued a season-long trend, UM was outscored by 26 points on 3-pointers and free throws.
– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll
Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+
Ohio State at Minnesota 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 11:16 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Ohio State -275 (bet $275 to win $100) | Minnesota +220 (bet $100 to win $220)
- Against the spread (ATS): Ohio State -6.5 (-105) | Minnesota +6.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 136.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
[gambcom-standard rankid=”4132″ ]
Ohio State at Minnesota picks and predictions
Prediction
Ohio State 71, Minnesota 65
Moneyline
No interest. PASS.
Against the spread
Minnesota is 0-4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home. Ohio State is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games on the road.
The Buckeyes didn’t play great against MSU Friday, but even with an off shooting night was still up by 1 inside the 10-minute mark in the second half. Ohio State is quite strong across 3 levels on defense, and that factor likely looms large against a Gophers team that has not played a lot of great defensive teams.
UM gives up a lot in the offensive comparison with OSU, but will try to compensate with a glacially slow tempo. That pace and Ohio State being young and not a terribly consistent team playing on the road are factors that could work against the Buckeyes. But an OHIO STATE -5.5 (-102) play — price available on FanDuel Sportsbook — is worth some partial-unit action.
Over/Under
Both defenses excel in forcing sub-optimal mid-range shot attempts. Minnesota excels in blocking shots and defending at the rim. Ohio State counters with tremendous perimeter defense.
That all makes for some OSU-in-front game flow in a pace that fits Minnesota’s slow-down style.
BACK THE UNDER 136.5 (-110).
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
[gambcom-standard rankid=”6305″ ]
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.
College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:
Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Duke / Florida / Florida State / Georgia / Iowa / Kentucky / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / UCLA / USC / Washington / Wisconsin / Recruiting / Transfer portal / College Football Playoffs / College Sports Wire / High School
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1667]
