The Ohio State Buckeyes face the Purdue Boilermakers in Big Ten Conference Tournament quarterfinal on Friday afternoon.
These teams had identical 18-8 records during the regular season and oddsmakers are having a difficult time separating these squads with college basketball betting lines having the Buckeyes as slim 1.5-point favorites.
We let you know which way we're leaning with our best free Ohio State vs. Purdue picks and predictions for Friday, March 12, from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Ohio State vs Purdue odds
Sharp money and line movement report
By Patrick EversonShortly before tipoff, this remains a short line with little movement for a Big Ten quarterfinal tilt. Ohio State opened -1 Thursday night at PointsBet USA, spent overnight at -1.5, returned to -1 this morning and is -1.5 as of 1:45 p.m. ET. “Approximately 70 percent of point-spread tickets and handle backing Ohio State,” PointsBet’s Patrick Eichner said. The total is down to 139 from a 142.5 opener, and the betting splits bear out that drop. “Seventy percent of bets and 90 percent of handle on the Under,” Eichner said.
Check out the full line movement for this gameOhio State Buckeyes vs Purdue Boilermakers betting preview
Injuries
Ohio State: Jimmy Sotos G (Out).
Purdue: Ethan Morton G (Questionable).
Find our latest NCAA basketball injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Under is 7-1 in the Boilermakers' last eight games following a straight-up win. Find more NCAA betting trends for Ohio State vs. Purdue.
Against the spread (ATS) pick
The Buckeyes held on for a 79-75 win over Minnesota on Thursday, which allowed them to snap out of a four-game losing streak. Meanwhile, the Boilermakers come into the Big Ten Tournament red-hot, going 5-0 SU and ATS over their last five games.
Although the Boilermakers currently look to be in better form and have the edge on defense, there is reason to like the Buckeyes on Friday. Keep in mind that three of the previously mentioned OSU losses came against some of the best teams in the country—Michigan, Illinois, and Iowa.
While Purdue is led by Trevion Williams and his 15.4 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, it doesn't have many scoring options around him. Ohio State, on the other hand, has its own high-scoring forward in E.J. Liddell (16 ppg), an outside shooter in Dwayne Washington Jr. (15.3 ppg), and a couple of other starters in Justice Sueing and CJ Walker who are capable of creating their own shot.
The Buckeyes are third in the conference in scoring with 76.8 ppg, while leading the Big Ten in free-throw shooting (77 percent) and ranking 12th in the nation in turnovers per offensive play. There's nothing like hitting free throws and taking care of the ball to win a close game, which has us leaning towards OSU.
PREDICTION: Ohio State -1 (-110)
Over/Under Pick
When these sides clashed earlier this season they cashed the Under on both occasions, combining for 137 points in West Lafayette and putting up a total of 132 points in Columbus.
Purdue has been one of the top defensive teams in the conference, holding foes to 65.5 ppg on 41.2 percent shooting. It also plays at a very slow pace, ranking 273rd in the country in adjusted tempo, per KenPom.
While the Buckeyes haven't been quite as efficient on defense they are still limiting foes to a field goal percentage of 42.8 and also like to eat up the shot clock when they have the ball. Take the Under.
PREDICTION: Under 143.5 (-110)
Ohio State vs Purdue betting card
- Ohio State -1 (-110)
- Under 143.5 (-110)
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