NCAAB Saturday February 13th Indiana at Ohio State Betting Preview
Scrappy Hoosiers Can Play With Anybody
We’ve got the proverbial value on both teams in the February 13th Indiana at Ohio State betting matchup. It’s hard not to like the Buckeyes, who have risen to #4 in the AP Top 25, and are searching for their 6th straight win. Not to mention, the Buckeyes are 9-1 in Columbus on the year.
OSU is giving -6.5 points on Saturday though against a Hoosiers team that has swept #15 Iowa this year, just went to OT in a loss vs. #6 Illinois, and lost in OT at #21 Wisconsin earlier in the season. The Hoosiers have the #4 scorer in the Big Ten, but the home team won both games last year, including an OSU 68-59 victory in Columbus as -7 favorites.
Jackson-Davis Leads Indiana
It’s been an up and down year for the 11-8 Hoosiers, but they seem to be finding their stride at the right point in the season. IU has rattled off two straight wins, including another upset of Iowa (67-65 as +3.5 home underdogs) and surviving at Northwestern 79-76 in OT as -3 road favorites.
Even Indiana’s recent losses have been close games, including by four to Illinois and Rutgers preceded by the first win over the Hawkeyes. It’s been a much improved month of basketball compared to IU falling by 12 at home to Purdue and 7 at Wisconsin (in OT) in early January. The Hoosiers are also just 3-3 on the road this season.
Indiana ranks way down at 8th in the Big Ten in scoring, but they are still a dangerous team thanks to talented freshman Trayce Jackson-Davis. Jackson-Davis has been held under 20 points for four straight games, but he’s also grabbed at least a dozen boards in three straight. Armaan Franklin has stepped up with 23 points vs. Northwestern and the game winner vs. Iowa and Aljami Durham also had 24 vs. the Wildcats. All hands on deck vs. the Buckeyes.
OSU Just Too Good?
The betting total for the February 13th Indiana at Ohio State matchup is 138, but both of these teams can put the ball in the hoop. The Hoosiers have showed some scoring depth lately, but they’ll need it against a Buckeyes team that ranks 4th in the Big Ten with 77.5 ppg.
As an example of how good the Buckeyes are, they were able to win at Maryland by 8 on Saturday (as -3 favorites) despite leading scorer E.J. Liddell being held to 7 points due mostly to foul trouble. Justice Suing, who averages in double figure scoring, add 0 points. Instead Duane Washington stepped up with 18 as did Kyle Young.
The big question still remains if Indiana has what it takes to stop the 6’7″, 240 pound Liddell – or at least get him in foul trouble? Liddell isn’t the rebounder that similar Big Ten bigs Kofi Cockburn or Trevion Williams are, but he does have 20+ points in 4 of the last 7. Cockburn had 16&10 vs. Indiana and Williams 22&10, good, but also manageable.
Free February 13th Indiana at Ohio State Pick
The Buckeyes are great and rolling hard at #4 in the country, but 6.5 points is a lot to give in this matchup. The Hoosiers have at least three guys who have shown they can go for 20+, and Jackson-Davis likes the big game atmosphere.
Ohio State 72 – Indiana 70
Free Pick: Indiana +6.5
