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The Northwestern Wildcats (10-2, 1-0 Big Ten) will attempt to extend a five-game winning run when hosting the Ohio State Buckeyes (9-3, 1-0 Big Ten) at 7:30 PM ET on Sunday, January 1, 2023 at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Sunday’s matchup between the Buckeyes and the Wildcats features the Buckeyes as modest 2.5-point favorites. A 136.5-point total is set for the game.
Ohio State vs. Northwestern Odds
Point Spread for Ohio State vs. Northwestern
The spread for this matchup is set at 2.5 points, with bookmakers listing Ohio State as the favorite.
Ohio State vs. Northwestern Moneyline
As for the moneyline, Ohio State has -142 odds to pick up the win, while Northwestern is listed at +119 to claim victory.
Over/Under
Finally, the total for the game is set at 136.5 points.
Game Time and How to Watch
- Game Day: Sunday, January 1, 2023
- Game Time: 7:30 PM ET
- Location: Evanston, Illinois
- Arena: Welsh-Ryan Arena
Ohio State vs. Northwestern Betting Trends
Ohio State is 6-6-0 against the spread this year. The Buckeyes have been listed as the favorite five times this season and have come away with a win in all of those games. Ohio State’s games this year have gone over the total in eight out of 12 opportunities (66.7%).
Northwestern has seven wins against the spread in 12 games this year. The Wildcats have been the moneyline underdog just two other times so far this season, and they split the games. Northwestern’s games this season have hit the over 25% of the time (three out of 12 games with a set point total).
Ohio State vs. Northwestern Key Players to Watch
Ohio State
Zed Key posts a team-best 8.2 rebounds per game. He is also posting 13.6 points and 1.2 assists, shooting 63.9% from the field. Justice Sueing averages 13.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists per contest, shooting 45.3% from the field. Brice Sensabaugh is tops on his team in both points (15.8) and assists (1.3) per game, and also averages 4.2 rebounds. At the other end, he puts up 0.4 steals and 0.3 blocked shots. Bruce Thornton is tops on the Buckeyes at 3.3 assists per contest, while also putting up 2.9 rebounds and 10.8 points.
Northwestern
Chase Audige is putting up a team-leading 15.3 points per game. And he is contributing 3.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists, making 40.8% of his shots from the floor and 37.5% from 3-point range, with 2.3 triples per game. Boo Buie is No. 1 on the Wildcats in assists (4.3 per game), and produces 14.2 points and 3.7 rebounds. He also posts 1.1 steals and 0.2 blocked shots. Ty Berry gives the Wildcats 9.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per contest. He also posts 1.9 steals and 0.3 blocked shots. Robbie Beran is posting a team-leading 6.3 rebounds per game. And he is contributing 9.8 points and 0.5 assists, making 37.5% of his shots from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc, with 1.3 treys per game.
What you need to know about the Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State won 11 games against the spread in conference action last season, while failing to cover 10 times. The Buckeyes own a top-25 offense this season, ranking 22nd-best in college basketball with 81.7 points per game. Defensively, they rank 87th with 65.1 points allowed per contest. Ohio State is allowing 28.3 rebounds per game this year (49th-ranked in college basketball), but it has thrived by pulling down 37.5 rebounds per game (16th-best).
Ohio State ranks 157th in the country with 7.8 treys per game so far this season. Meanwhile, it ranks 51st with a 37.3% shooting percentage from downtown. The Buckeyes are surrendering 5.5 threes per game this season (30th-ranked in college basketball), and they are allowing a 27.2% three-point percentage (ninth-best).
What you need to know about the Northwestern Wildcats
Northwestern covered nine times in 22 conference matchups with a spread last season. In 2022-23, the Wildcats are 279th in the nation on offense (68.2 points scored per game) and seventh-best on defense (55.7 points conceded). On the glass, Northwestern is 39th in the nation in rebounds (36.3 per game). It is 188th in rebounds conceded (31.2 per game).
Northwestern makes 8 3-pointers per game and shoots 31.1% from beyond the arc, ranking 134th and 305th, respectively, in college basketball. Defensively, the Wildcats are 257th in college basketball in 3-pointers allowed per game at 7.8. They are 131st in 3-point percentage allowed at 31.9%.
Ohio State vs. Northwestern Prediction & Pick
Our prediction to win this matchup is Ohio State, and we project that Northwestern will cover the spread (Ohio State -2.5). Finally, we see the scoring in this one going under the posted total of 136.5 points.
How to bet Ohio State vs. Northwestern
You can bet on Ohio State vs. Northwestern at every legal online sportsbook. For more college basketball odds, including moneylines, spreads, over/under totals, check out the latest NCAA lines as well as our guide to the best college basketball betting sites.
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