Ohio State vs Indiana Basketball Prediction & Picks: Will the Buckeyes Have a Bad Night in Bloomington?

If the Indiana Hoosiers want to make it three straight NCAA Tournament appearances under Mike Woodson, they are going to take advantage of opportunities like they have tonight against Ohio State (8:00 pm ET, FOX), who visits Bloomington looking to pick up a fifth straight win.

The Hoosiers (10-4, 2-1 Big Ten) opened their calendar year with an 86-70 loss at Nebraska on Wednesday, falling after winning their last three games and opening Big Ten play with wins over Maryland and Michigan.

The Hoosiers need to make the most of their opportunities to pick up solid wins at home, and a matchup with the Buckeyes (12-2, 2-1 Big Ten) offers one such opportunity.

Since falling at Penn State on December 9, OSU has won four straight, including a 76-72 win over Rutgers on Wednesday in Columbus.

The Buckeyes have played some great basketball this season and are on course for a decent March Madness seed as it stands, and a loss in Bloomington won’t derail that. However, a win at Assembly Hall can only help their cause, especially if the Hoosiers can make a move from this point.

Ohio State vs Indiana Odds

Odds are courtesy of BetOnline. If you’re interested in trying them out, we recommend checking out our BetOnline review.

Spread

• Ohio State -1 (-110)
• Indiana +1 (-110)

Over/Under

• Over 148 (-110)
• Under 148 (-110)

Moneyline

• Ohio State -118
• Indiana -102

Last Five Games for Ohio State

• Rutgers (1/3 – home): won 76-72
• West Virginia (12/30 – Cleveland, OH/Legends of Basketball Showcase): won 78-75 (OT)
• New Orleans (12/21 – home): won 78-36
• UCLA (12/16 – Atlanta, GA/CBS Sports Classic): won 67-60
• Penn State (12/9 – away): lost 83-80

Last Five Games for Indiana

• Nebraska (1/3 – away): lost 86-70
• Kennesaw State (12/29 – home): won 100-87
• North Alabama (12/21 – home): won 83-66
• Morehead State (12/19 – home): won 69-68
• Kansas (12/16 – home): lost 75-71

Players to Watch for Ohio State

• Bruce Thornton: 17.4 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 4.3 APG
• Roddy Gayle Jr.: 14.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 3.4 APG
• Jamison Battle: 14.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, 44.7% 3PT
• Zed Key: 9.1 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 59.2% FG

Players to Watch for Indiana

• Malik Reneau: 16.1 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 2.9 APG, 58.8% FG
• Kel’el Ware: 15.3 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.5 BPG, 56.9% FG
• Trey Galloway: 10.9 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 3.4 APG
• Mackenzie Mgbako: 9.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.6 APG

Ohio State vs Indiana Prediction and Picks

Prediction: Indiana to win

Other than the loss to the Jayhawks, the Hoosiers have not done well at all against the better teams on their schedule. They fell to UConn by 20 and Auburn by 28, and Wednesday’s loss in Lincoln saw them commit 19 turnovers and allow a dozen made threes.

However, that close loss to Kansas provides a lot of encouragement about what Indiana could be capable of at home, which is where they will be for tonight’s game.

The one bit of concern I do have about backing the Hoosiers is that they don’t shoot free throws all that well (68.0%).

But I won’t let that be a deterrent here. Late free throws are often about getting the ball in the right hands, and I will operate with the confidence that they will do so if they are in position to win.

Ohio State vs Indiana Picks

All picks listed below are courtesy of BetOnline. Bet these plays there and get a 100% BONUS on your first cryptocurrency deposit.

Spread and Over/Under Picks

Indiana +1 & Ohio State/Indiana over 148: I like a 77-73 kind of game here. It will be close throughout, but the Hoosiers will pull it out in the end.

Player Prop Picks

Malik Reneau over 5.5 rebounds (-118): Reneau has recorded six or more rebounds eight times this season, including each of his last four games.

Bruce Thornton under 15.5 points (-117): Thornton had 24 points against Rutgers, but trends favor a drop-off against Indiana.

In the previous four games that followed a 20+ point performance this season, Thornton scored 8, 13, 26, and 14 points.

It is worth noting, however, that he has had four or more assists in three of those four games. So, if you don’t mind the juice, over 3.5 assists (-143 at BetOnline and -145 at Bovada) is worth a look.

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