College Basketball Picks & Predictions: Michigan vs. Ohio State (Sunday)
Welcome back to another Sunday of college basketball picks and predictions. We have a smaller slate of games than normal today, but there are still some marquee matchups on tap with plenty of ways to go for college basketball bets. Before the action tips off, let’s lock in three CBB picks on this Sunday.
We'll start with the best game of the day as St. John’s hosts Creighton in Big East battle. Plus, we have picks for Michigan vs. Ohio State in the Big Ten and Florida Atlantic vs. Temple in the AAC. Note that all betting lines are accurate as of this writing, but shop around for the best odds. Enjoy these college basketball picks and predictions for Sunday, February 16’s game Michigan vs. Ohio State.
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Sunday's Best College Basketball Bets: Michigan vs. Ohio State
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Michigan vs. Ohio State
One of the best rivalries in college sports hits the hardwood on Sunday with Ohio State hosting Michigan. This game has plenty of meaning for both the Big Ten standings and each squad's NCAA Tournament resumes. The Wolverines are having a better season and are currently first in the conference, but the home Buckeyes are the play.
Even in a rivalry setting, this is a prime letdown spot for Michigan. It just beat Purdue in a statement win at home earlier this week to take over first place in the Big Ten. The Wolverines also survived on the road at Indiana last weekend in another emotional, hard-fought battle.
Meanwhile, Ohio State comes in playing very well at home lately. The Buckeyes just crushed Washington by 24 points on this same court earlier this week and pulled off a home win over Maryland last week. They're now 10-4 against the spread (ATS) at home this season with three straight home covers.
On the flip side, Michigan has failed to cover eight straight games coming into this one. The Wolverines have been a bit overvalued in the betting market themselves, especially away from home. They're just 2-6 ATS in their last eight road/neutral games.
Michigan may boast the better overall win-loss record and rate higher in the NET or at KenPom, but a few stats point towards Ohio State here.
The Wolverines struggle to take care of the ball on offense and avoid turnovers. They rank 331st nationally and dead last in the Big Ten in offensive turnover rate this year. That becomes an even bigger concern on the road in a rivalry game.
Those turnovers could loom large if Michigan's shots aren't falling. Ohio State is holding opponents to 29.2% three-point shooting (10th in Division I) and a 46.9% effective field-goal rate (32nd). Michigan, on the other hand, is shooting just 34.1% from three in conference play (9th in Big Ten).
Conversely, Ohio State ranks first in the entire country in offensive steal rate while Michigan is 305th in defensive steal rate. The Buckeyes boast four capable ball-handlers in the backcourt and on the wings. Devin Royal, Bruce Thornton, Micah Parrish, and John Mobley all have the upside to lead the team in scoring on a given day.
Ohio State is allowing 69.8 PPG at home in conference play and can hold Michigan to less than 70 points here as well. The Wolverines have scored 70, 66, and 64 points in their past three road games. Grab the home Buckeyes to pull out the home victory.
Pick: Buckeyes Moneyline (-132)