The Ohio State Buckeyes hit the road in Big Ten College Basketball action tonight when they take on the Purdue Boilermakers. The game is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start time and it will be televised live on the Big Ten Network. Currently the Betting Odds for the game have the Buckeyes favored by a small amount in this one tonight.

Ohio State has climbed back into the national rankings this week, sitting at No. 23. Purdue won't have a problem with that as they've knocked off a pair of ranked teams — Iowa and Indiana, both at home — in the last week or so. The Boilermakers have now won three straight and four of their last five games overall.

The Buckeyes have one of the best young players in the country in D'Angelo Russell, a bigtime guard that pours in 19.4 points a game for the season, but better than 24 per contest over the last five games. Purdue is going to have some problems slowing him down in this one, but Ohio State has gotten solid games from a good group of players recently. Ohio State comes into tonight's game having won three straight overall, also beating two ranked opponents recently like Purdue.

The Boilers have dropped six straight to Ohio State, including two on their own floor. 

This year, Purdue has done a pretty good job of playing opponents tough in home games, winners of 10 of their 13 — but two of their losses came to North Florida and Gardner-Webb. Boilers are going to have to match the intensity that Thad Matta's team brings tonight.

Pounding the ball inside to A.J. Hammons while getting solid guard play on the perimeter. Rapheal Davis could be one of those guys that has a solid game as the second-best scorer for Purdue. Both Hammons and Davis are double figure guys. Kendall Stephens and Vince Edwards will also play major roles in this game for Purdue.

It's gonna be a close contest, no doubt, and Purdue is looking to pick off a third-straight ranked opponent.

Free Pick: Ohio State 71, Purdue 67

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