The 22nd-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes hit the road tonight to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on ESPN2. Currently the odds for the game have Ohio State favored by a couple of possessions in this one.
Aaron Craft and the Buckeyes were once ranked in the Top 5 of the polls, but then got into the conference slate and fell. That doesn't mean they're a bad basketball team, but it does mean they have regrouped as well. The Buckeyes have steadied themselves at No. 22 in the rankings and they sit at 9-6 in the Big Ten standings and are currently in fourth place.
Ohio State has lost just once in their last seven games, to conference leader Michigan. But Ohio State knows they can't win the regular season conference crown. Yet, seeding in the Big Ten tournament will be important. The Buckeyes' last three games come against these Nittany Lions, Indiana and Michigan State. If they win two of those three games the Buckeyes will have certainly had a successful season. But in tonight's game, they can't look past Penn State.
The Nittany Lions aren't in the top half of the conference like they wanted to early in the season. In fact, they're sitting in last place with their 4-10 record. They're one of just two teams (Northwestern being the other) that are actually below the .500 mark for the entire season as well in the Big Ten. But oddsmakers have them tabbed as only a 5.5-point underdog in this game to a tough Ohio State team. The Big Ten has proven all season that it's tough to win on the road, just ask Michigan from last night's game at Purdue.
But Penn State has a couple of All-Conference players in DJ Newbill and Tim Frazier that can have an impact on this game. Both average at least 16 points a game and give the Nittany Lions a chance to match up with Ohio State. Penn State has dropped four of their last five games, including two at home.
And there's some revenge here for Ohio State. Penn State knocked them off in Columbus back in January, ending a string of 80 straight wins by the Buckeyes against unranked opponents on their home floor. This will be senior night and Penn State would like to send Frazier out in style.
The Buckeyes claim they are a better team today than they were when they lost to Penn State at home. If they are, they'll win this game. But we think this is going to be a close one.
Free Pick: Ohio State 61, Penn State 58
Handicapping Tips: NCAA Best Bets
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