The Big Ten regular season wraps up in Bloomington on Friday night for both Ohio State and Indiana. It’s been a successful stint for #15 Ohio State (23-7) who spent some time atop the conference and looks to make a splash in the Big Ten tournament that starts next week. The Hoosiers (16-13) are going to miss the tournament barring any miracle at Madison Square Garden next weekend for the automatic bid. If the Hoosiers can get a win in the 2/23 college basketball free pick it just might give them the momentum they need.
BIG recruit in town, BIG hoops game tonight… let’s go, Friday! @IndianaMBB #Hoosiers #Buckeyes #TGIF pic.twitter.com/QzsKk1dFKO
— Mike Murray (@MikeMurrman) February 23, 2018
Ohio State Slight Road Favorites in This Contest
Oddsmakers have set the line at OSU -1.5 for the 2/23 college basketball free pick and the spread is down only 1/2 a point from the open. The Buckeyes have been solid on the road with a 5-2 record on the year, but both those defeats have came in the last 8 days (at Penn State, at Michigan). Suddenly there are some questions on OSU’s travel ability heading to Assembly Hall where IU is 12-5 on the season.
At the very least the Buckeyes should come out motivated. With a win over Indiana tonight and a Michigan State loss at Wisconsin on Sunday, OSU can get a share of the Big Ten title for the first time since 2012. Indiana is going to be pumped too however as it is Senior Night on Friday. The Hoosiers can pull off the win if OSU’s Keita Bates-Diop continues to struggle. The Big Ten POY candidate had just 6 points the last game against Rutgers and is shooting just 31% from the field in his last three contests.
Indiana’s Guard-Oriented Offense Could Be Trouble
The Hoosiers rely on a three guard offense the majority of the time and their tallest starter is 6’8″ Juwan Morgan so IU could be outsized in the 2/23 college basketball free pick. In the first meeting of the year, OSU won 71-56 at Columbus mostly because they outscored the Hoosiers 40-25 in the paint and held a 39-26 rebounding advantage. Indiana’s small lineup could be an asset tonight however. OSU is showing signs of fatigue and on Friday night will be playing their third road game in 8 days (4th game overall). With the energy of Senior night is the Indiana +105 ML looking good?
Indiana has won four of their last five but it’s a 57-66 loss at Nebraska on Tuesday night that leaves a sour taste for tonight’s game. Robert Johnson wraps up his illustrious regular season Hoosiers career on Friday night looking for his sixth straight game in double figure scoring. Johnson shot just 1-6 against OSU in the first meeting though.
2/23 College Basketball Free Pick Betting
Ohio State shot 69% inside arc in 71-56 win over Indiana Jan 30; Hoosiers are 4-2 in last six series games. Buckeyes lost last three visits here, by 8-3-25 points. OSU lost its last two road games, at Penn St/Michigan; they’re 4-2 overall on Big 14 road. Hoosiers won four of
— jim degeorgia (@jdmoose65) February 23, 2018
On a neutral site with equal rest Ohio State is the obvious better team that probably wins this game by 10+ points. There are a lot of extenuating circumstances for tonight’s contest however. The first is Senior night at a rowdy Assembly Hall as the Hoosier fans say goodbye to five players including Robert Johnson (23rd highest scorer of program).and 6th man Josh Newkirk. Sure Ohio State can get a share of the Big Ten title with a win – but they’ll also need a Michigan State loss on Sunday in Madison. The road-weary Buckeyes have a full week off after tonight until their next game. It seems like it would be easy for OSU to write this game off and focus on the Big Ten tournament next weekend – one being held with the fanfare of Madison Square Garden for the first time.
Free Pick: Indiana Hoosiers +1.5
