Tag: ohio state

Ohio State at North Carolina odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Wednesday’s Ohio State Buckeyes at North Carolina Tar Heels college basketball matchup, with NCAA basketball betting odds, picks and best bets

The Ohio State Buckeyes (7-0) will tussle with the North Carolina Tar Heels (6-1) at the Dean E. Smith Center at 9:30 p.m. ET Wednesday in a battle between top 10 squads in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. We analyze the Ohio State-North Carolina odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.

The Buckeyes are ranked sixth in the USA TODAY Sports men’s basketball coaches poll. The Tar Heels are No. 7.

Ohio State at North Carolina: Three things you need to know

1. Ohio State F Kaleb Wesson has been a one-man wrecking crew for the Buckeyes, leading the team in points (12.7), rebounds (9.3) and blocked shots (1.7).

2. The Buckeyes football team is known for its stingy defense, but the basketball team is making headlines in the category, too. The hoopsters are No. 2 overall in scoring defense (52.7 points), while also checking in second in field-goal percentage defense (32.7 percent).

3. North Carolina has won 12 of 14 all-time meetings in this series, including an 86-72 win in the Dean Dome back in 2017.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!

Ohio State at North Carolina: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:30 a.m. ET.

Prediction

North Carolina 76, Ohio State 69

Moneyline (ML)

NORTH CAROLINA (-189) will cost you more than against the spread, but it could be a tight game and the extra insurance might be worth it. Ohio State (+155) is battle-tested, having scored impressive wins over Cincinnati and Villanova, but a win in Chapel Hill is a pretty tall order.

Against the Spread (ATS)

NORTH CAROLINA (-3.5, -110) won’t blow the doors off Ohio State (+3.5, -110) as the Buckeyes won’t be intimidated by the environment. But UNC will be the most complete team OSU faces to date. Freshman F Armando Bacot is a handful, posting double-doubles in four of his first five games, and he’ll give Ohio State fits.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on UNC to win by at least four points returns a profit of $9.09.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 135.5 (-161) is the play, as this one should sneak into the lower 140’s with a series of late fouls and free throws, helping to inch the game over the line. The Over is 4-1 in the past five meetings in this series, too.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

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Watch what Ohio State head coach Ryan Day had to say about winning B1G Coach of the Year

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day won B1G Coach of the Year, and he talked about it with the Big Ten Network.

Ohio State’s Ryan Day won Big Ten Coach of the Year as decided by the media.

Minnesota’s head coach, P.J. Fleck, won coach of the year as nominated by conference coaches while Day won the one given away by the conference’s media.

As for Day, he is the university’s first winner of the award since 1979, the year he was born. That said, Day has been nothing short of spectacular in his first season in charge.

The Buckeyes are entering the Big Ten Championship Game with an unblemished 12-0 record.

They are one of three Power 5 teams that are still undefeated, and however, Saturday unfolds, Ohio State is still a virtual lock for the College Football Playoff.

They can thank Ryan Day for all the success.

He’s coalesced the talent on this team and made a cohesive group that is an absolute force. Here’s what the always-humble Day had to say on winning the award.

This will be just the first of many awards heading Ohio State’s way. Chase Young has already won B1G Defensive and Defensive Lineman of the Year, and it’s likely they’ll also have the Offensive Player of the Year as well.

Overall, Day has been the voice of this team, and he’s been outstanding as the unanimous leader so far this season.

Not bad for a first year head coach.

Jeff Okudah snubbed on Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year

Ohio State University’s Jeff Okudah wasn’t named Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year. Needless to say, he was snubbed.

Jeff Okudah is widely praised as the second-best defensive prospect set to enter the NFL Draft, and best overall defensive back. His only competition for overall defensive player is teammate Chase Young, who was was recently awarded the Big Ten’s Defensive Player and Defensive Lineman of the Year.

For Okudah though, he did not receive the honor of the Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year. While Okudah may very well be the best, it was Minnesota’s Antoine Winfield Jr. who was given the award.

Winfield Jr. is a stellar corner. He’s fourth in the nation in interceptions with seven, and those have been a major factor in why Minnesota has just two losses.

However, his numbers are better because he’s actually thrown at. Most quarterbacks choose to run their first read at Shaun Wade or Damon Arnette, two other Ohio State corners that may also be drafted.

Okudah isn’t often targeted. That kills his numbers. While he was named to the All-Big Ten First Team, Okudah should’ve been noted as not just the conference’s but the nation’s best corner.

He recently garnered some praise in CBS Sports’ recent mock draft. Selected fourth overall by the Dolphins, columnist Ryan Wilson noted that Okudah was an absolute monster against Michigan.

“Okudah had his best game of the season on Saturday against Michigan, shutting down every Michigan WR he lined up against.”

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It was shocking. Shea Patterson actually opted to test Okudah instead of just not looking to that entire side of the field.

Okudah has just 20 solo tackles and three interceptions on the year. It’s not a shocker that his numbers are significantly worse than Winfield Jr.’s. Winfield is a viable selection for the award, but that doesn’t make him the conference’s best corner.

We have a feeling the NFL scouts and executives will agree with us when it’s all said and done.

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Sad Alabama football fans tweet after dropping out of top-10 in CFP rankings

Sad Alabama football fans tweet after the Crimson Tide drop out of the top-10 in the CFP rankings.

After Alabama lost to Auburn on Saturday in the Iron Bowl, the Crimson Tide have fallen outside of the top-ten in the College Football Playoff rankings for the first time I can remember.

All November, my favorite part of the Tuesday night rankings reveal centered around angry Alabama fans voicing this displeasure of being ranked behind Georgia, which has sat at No. 4 since the initial reveal.

Now, the Tide are at No. 12, and their fans don’t really have an argument for being inside the top-ten, but that did not stop the fans from spazzing out on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/nathaneurton/status/1202042355546820608

 

 

College Football Playoff: Instant Reaction to New Rankings

how in the world can you justify Penn State being eight spots higher?

The answer is that you can’t.

The College Football Playoff rankings came out Tuesday night with a couple of shocks but nothing major in terms of the top-four or where Notre Dame will likely end up because of where they wind up in these latest rankings.

If you haven’t seen the rankings yet, here they are:

Three fast thoughts on them:

Great news for the Big XII:

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

College Football Playoffs: Ohio State remains No. 1, top four unchanged

The Ohio State Buckeyes, going into the week of conference championship games, have retained the No. 1 spot in the CFP rankings.

It’s official. Ohio State is still No. 1 in the second-to-last CFP rankings.

The Ohio State Buckeyes, going into the week of conference championship games, have retained the No. 1 spot in the CFP rankings.

Ohio State, LSU, Clemson, and Georgia round out the top four. However, teams like Utah and Oklahoma, who were No. 5 and 6, still have a chance to win their conference championship and get in the top four.

Baylor, Wisconsin, Florida, and Penn State round out 7-10. That said, did you notice that Alabama, with its second loss of the season to Auburn this past weekend, has dropped out of the top ten?

Overall, Ohio State will take on Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game, and they should virtually be a lock for the College Football Playoffs regardless of Saturday’s outcome.

Their entire body of work has been unmatched. They’ve defeated Penn State, Michigan and Wisconsin, taking down the latter two by 20-plus. This Ohio State has just been absolutely dominant this season.

They’ll currently be facing No. 4 Georgia if the playoffs started today. However, if Georgia loses to LSU in the SEC Championship, Utah or Oklahoma, with a win, will likely get in.

CFP rankings revealed ahead of LSU vs Georgia

The College Football playoff rankings have been revealed ahead of Georgia football’s SEC Championship Game vs LSU.

This weekend, it’s win and you’re in for Georgia.

The Dawgs, which remained the highest ranked one-loss team in the College Football Playoff rankings since the first reveal of the season, held onto that spot as we enter conference championship weekend.

This Saturday, it will be No. 4 Georgia vs No. 2 LSU in Atlanta.

Much of the reason for Georgia’s high ranking has to due with who the Bulldogs have beaten. That includes three top-15 wins over Florida (9), Auburn (11) and Notre Dame (15).

Here is the full top-15:

1. Ohio State

2. LSU

3. Clemson

4. Georgia

5. Utah

6. Oklahoma

7. Baylor

8. Wisconsin

9. Florida

10. Penn State

11. Auburn

12. Alabama

13. Oregon

14. Michigan

15. Notre Dame

Ohio State Football: Chase Young named Big Ten Defender of the Year

Chase Young, the dominant defensive end for Ohio State, has been named the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Chase Young, the dominant defensive end for Ohio State, has been named the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Young has followed the recent trend of absolutely dominant defenders for Ohio State that started with Joey Bosa and Marshon Lattimore and has continued down the line. Bosa was the last to win this award in 2014.

Young also was named Defensive Lineman of the Year after breaking the university’s single-season sack record, entering the Big Ten Championship Game with 16.5 sacks. He also has 19.5 tackles for loss and 38 total tackles.

Being suspended for two games, Young could’ve easily been looking at 20-plus sacks had that not occurred. But, they did, and Young was sparred of any season-ending penalties, a sigh of relief for all Ohio State fans.

A projected top-two pick, Young is clearly the best defender in the nation. This should just be the start of the season-ending award for one of college football’s most dominant defenders.

Offensive awards will be announced tomorrow.

One fact magnifies Wisconsin and Ohio State before B1G title game

A simple fact shows how successful the Wisconsin Badgers and Ohio State Buckeyes really are.

Simple facts can convey profound truths. Such is the case before the Wisconsin Badgers face the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2019 Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis on Saturday. Let’s put it very plainly: With Paul Chryst and Ryan Day representing their teams in Lucas Oil Stadium, Wisconsin and Ohio State are the only two Big Ten programs which have made the Big Ten Championship Game with more than one coach.

Wisconsin, of course, is the leader among Big Ten programs in this regard: Three separate coaches have led the Badgers to Indianapolis. No other Big Ten program can make that claim. Bret Bielema and Gary Andersen preceded Chryst, who — on his own — has made three Big Ten title games, as many as Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio. Only Urban Meyer has made more Big Ten title games (four) than Chryst.

Ryan Day enables Ohio State to be the only program other than Wisconsin which has placed multiple coaches in the Big Ten Championship Game. These two programs — UW and OSU — are the leaders in overall Big Ten title game appearances, and they are the only two with multiple coaches in this game. If that isn’t a strong indication of sustained quality as a program, nothing is.

What is also worth noting, as we assess the significance of Wisconsin and Ohio State reaching Indianapolis with multiple head coaches, is that while Ryan Day has been superb this season, he is doing this with Urban Meyer’s players. This doesn’t diminish what Day has done this year. Yet, it is an obvious challenge — and rite of passage — for head coaches at elite programs to move past successes with inherited talent, and arrive at a point when they can say they built their own successes.

Yes, Day’s successes in 2019 are his own to the extent that he has coached this team. He has occupied a leadership position. He has carried the responsibility of guiding Ohio State through a full season. Yet, we all know that it’s one thing to coach inherited talent to the top. Coaching your own talent to the top is the higher and fuller measure of coaching prowess.

Paul Chryst and Wisconsin have attained that. Ryan Day and Ohio State? We will have to wait until the next decade to truly find out.

Big Ten Championship Game: Wisconsin is part of a B1G trinity

Reflections on the Wisconsin Badgers’ sixth appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Minnesota is in the rearview mirror. Let’s now move to the Big Ten Championship Game this upcoming Saturday against Ohio State. We have plenty of time to unpack numerous angles related to this contest. Let’s start with some aspects of Big Ten Championship Game history at the end of the first decade for this standalone event, which began in 2011.

It is fitting that Wisconsin and Michigan State played in the first Big Ten Championship Game, with Ohio State stuck for one season between the end of the Jim Tressel era and the beginning of the Urban Meyer era. Ohio State’s 2011 mess and its 2012 lack of eligibility for postseason play are why the Badgers have the most Big Ten Championship Game appearances at the end of the decade, with six. A 6 of 9 “shooting line” is 67 percent from the field, so to speak. That will do. It speaks to Wisconsin’s consistency and dependability as a program.

The surprise is not that Wisconsin has been consistent. It was consistent in the late 1990s. It was consistent in the several seasons immediately preceding the 2011 campaign, the first year with a Big Ten Championship Game. Wisconsin has generally been a 10-win program over the past two decades, with a brief period of drift in the early 2000s and an occasional ho-hum season (such as 2018 for Paul Chryst) in which a lot of things went wrong.

No, the surprise is not that Wisconsin has been consistent, or that Michigan State and Ohio State have also made multiple return trips to the Big Ten Championship Game in this decade, which is about to end. The surprise is that no one else in this conference has been particularly consistent at the higher end of performance.

Yes, Penn State has become fairly strong in recent seasons, and the Nittany Lions could become the team which makes an upward move among the Big Ten’s best teams in the 2020s. Yes, Michigan has not been terrible; its biggest sin under Jim Harbaugh is that it can’t match the juggernaut Urban assembled, and Ryan Day sustained this year, at Ohio State. Nevertheless, Michigan has not been relentlessly consistent in the way it used to be under Lloyd Carr. Yes, Minnesota could become the fresh new face in the top tier of the Big Ten in the coming decade.

Yet, all of them haven’t truly maintained a regular annual home in the top tier of the Big Ten. The first nine seasons of divisional play and a Big Ten Championship Game reveal that Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Ohio State are the ONLY three programs to make the Big Ten title game more than once.

Does that surprise you? Maybe the current pecking order in the Big Ten — with a second Wisconsin-Ohio State B1G championship showdown in three seasons — casts that statement in a different light. Maybe it is so expected that Ohio State and Wisconsin will win their respective divisions that the above fact doesn’t resonate very strongly. Fair enough.

Yet, I ask you to pause for a moment. Just absorb this question and what it means: In 2011, when the first Big Ten Championship Game was played, were you prepared to think that Michigan would not play in ANY of the first nine B1G title games?

Were you prepared to think that Nebraska would play in only one, and go seven years (and counting) without so much as a division title? Were you prepared to think after 2015 that Iowa would not get back to this game in the remainder of the decade?

The fact that we have had nine Big Ten title games (including this upcoming 2019 edition) means that 18 berths in the Big Ten Championship Game have been allotted in the past nine seasons. The leaderboard looks like this:

  • Wisconsin, 6 berths
  • Ohio State, 5
  • Michigan State, 3
  • Nebraska, Iowa, Penn State, and Northwestern, all with 1 apiece

The top two aren’t surprising at all, and in 2012, Ohio State would have qualified had it been eligible. The surprise is how few Big Ten programs have returned to Indy… and Michigan State, after so many strong seasons, is a program in decline, with Mark Dantonio’s career seemingly out of gas.

Wisconsin and Ohio State, it can reasonably be argued, are not only the two most reliable programs in the Big Ten; they might be the ONLY reliable programs in this conference.