Oddsmakers are a bit torn on the 1/4 college basketball free pick when the Ohio State Buckeyes (11-4) visit the Iowa Hawkeyes (9-7). This game opened up at IOWA -1 but has since shifted to OSU -1.5. By record alone, the Buckeyes by a bucket would seem like an appealing play. This is just the second true road game of the year for OSU however and Iowa sports a solid 6-2 record at home. Thursday should be a good one in Iowa City.
OSU Aims to Go 3-0 In Big Ten Play
The Buckeyes 11-4 start has come against the 35th hardest schedule in college basketball. Already this season Ohio State has matched up with #19 Gonzaga (59-86 L ), 12-3 Butler (66-67 L ), #25 Clemson (65-79 L), and #11 North Carolina (72-86 L). The results haven’t been the greatest, but the competition has hardened the Buckeyes up for tough challenges like the 1/4 college basketball free pick. OSU is streaking in the right direction too, having won six of their last seven games.
Something that needs to be noted about Ohio State’s successful start to the year is that their only true road game is an 83-58 win in Wisconsin. A great outing yes, but a small sample size.when up against an Iowa team that is tough on their home court. The Hawkeyes captured an 85-72 win in this contest in Iowa City last year and OSU is 2-5 ATS the last seven meetings.
The Iowa Men’s Basketball BLACKOUT game is tomorrow night at 6 pm vs. Ohio State! Make sure to wear black and cheer on your Hawkeyes! pic.twitter.com/L4PgFjixEJ
— Dwayne Martin (@drm69) January 4, 2018
Can You Trust the Hawkeyes In This Tilt?
Iowa has won five of their last six, but is coming into the 1/4 college basketball free pick off of a 68-75 home loss to Michigan on Tuesday night. The most important thing to note in that stat is that Iowa is playing tonight on just one night’s rest, something not of the norm for college hoops players. Ohio State on the other hand hasn’t played since December 30th, meaning they’ll have had four full nights of rest.
The Iowa offense has the talent to pull this contest off even on weary legs. The Hawkeyes have posted above 90 points on offense in four of the last six games F Tyler Cook can be huge against OSU as he went for 28 points and 8 boards the last time out. The biggest questions for the Hawkeyes is going to be getting Cook some help. Luke Garza had 25 points off the bench two games ago, but him and players such as Isaiah Moss and Jordan Bohannon have just been too inconsistent.
Iowa will try to avoid an 0-4 start to conference tonight against Ohio State. Tyler Cook already getting up shots two and a half hours before tip-off pic.twitter.com/Ph3n5dIaEE
— Michael Admire (@Admire_OnAir) January 4, 2018
1/4 College Basketball Free Pick Betting
60% of the public is liking Ohio State on the road in this contest and there’s been plenty of line movement to prove as such. One of the biggest factors working against Iowa in the 1/4 college basketball free pick is the fact that they just played Tuesday night against Michigan. That, and tonight doesn’t mark a true home court advantage as Iowa students are out on holiday break until January 16th. Keita Bates-Diop is going to be too much leading the Buckeyes charge as they push their Big Ten mark to 3-0.
Pick: Ohio State Buckeyes -1.5
