NCAAW Betting Odds & Pick: USC Trojans vs. Ohio State Buckeyes

by Travis Pulver |
Feb 08, 2025

The No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes will try to get back on the right side of the scoreboard tonight when they take on the No. 7 USC Trojans at the Galen Center in Los Angeles. Tipoff for this Big Ten battle is at 9 p.m. ET and is scheduled to be broadcast on Fox.

Both teams are in the top ten, so fans should be in for an incredible game. Ohio State has been a solid road team this season (6-2), but Notre Dame has been beaten at home just once this season (vs. Notre Dame).

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USC vs. Ohio State Betting Preview

(Odds Courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)

Details

Betting Line: USC -7.5, O/U 141.5
Location: Galen Center in Los Angeles, CA
Start Time: 9 p.m. ET
Coverage: Fox
Last Meeting: November 6, 2023-USC Trojans 83 Ohio State Buckeyes 74

Overview

Ohio State gave the No. 1 Bruins a pretty good fight in Wednesday's low-scoring battle. They were behind by six at the half, 30-24 but pulled to within a basket by the end of the third (44-42) and tied the game up early in the fourth. However, UCLA then pulled away with a 19-1 run to secure the win.

USC is coming off a two-game road trip that saw the Trojans lose just their second game of the season, this time to Iowa. They rebounded with a win over Wisconsin before returning home for a brutal two-game homestand vs. No. 8 Ohio State and No. 1 UCLA.

With games against two ranked teams in their last four to end the regular season, including a rematch with UCLA, the Trojans will not want to let a winnable game slide by.

The Buckeyes will have a real challenge on their hands against a bigger, more athletic Trojans team led by one of the best players in the country, sophomore guard JuJu Watkins. Watkins is averaging 24.s points and 6.5 rebounds per game this season.

Her combination of size and speed is tough to contain, but if the Buckeyes do slow her down, USC will turn to Kiki Iriafen (17.7 ppg) and/or Kennedy Smith (10 ppg). Ohio State does not have a scoring threat as prolific as Watkins or Iriafen, but the Buckeyes do have four players averaging 10+ ppg.

Trends

USC and Ohio State have played on two other occasions, with both teams winning once.
Ohio State lost its second game of the season Wednesday night in Los Angeles to No. UCLA 65-52.
USC lost its second game of the season last Sunday, 76-69 @ Iowa.
Both are top four in the conference in scoring offense and defense.

The Bottom Line

Ohio State is a solid team, but the Buckeyes do not have the athletes or talent that the Trojans do. For Ohio State to have a shot at pulling off an upset, they need to force USC to make some uncharacteristic turnovers to get extra possessions (they forced UCLA into making 23).

However, unlike the UCLA game, they'll need to make the most of those additional possessions and make some baskets. It's possible, but not something worth counting on. USC is simply the better team.

Pick: Buckeyes -7.5 (-110)

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