Penn State at Ohio State Big Ten Tournament Picks & Predictions 3/2/2018

Friday, March 2, 2018

Madison Square Garden

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Penn State Nittany Lions travel to Madison Square Garden to play the Ohio State Buckeyes on Friday, March 2, 2018.

Penn State heads into this matchup with a mark of 19-12. They currently have a point differential of 8.4 as they are averaging 75.3 points per contest while giving up 66.8 per game. Ohio State has an overall mark of 24-7. They are averaging 76.1 points per contest and giving up 66.6, which is a point differential of 9.5.

Valuable Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Trends

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 14-12 against the spread this season

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 13-14 against the over/under this year

Important Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Trends

The Ohio State Buckeyes are 15-13 against the spread this season

The Ohio State Buckeyes are 9-20 against the over/under this year

Key Penn State Nittany Lions Injuries

02/26/18 F Mike Watkins Knee is "?" Thursday vs Northwestern

Key Ohio State Buckeyes Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Lamar Stevens averages 15.2 points per game in 32.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.8 assists per contest and 6.3 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 47% for the year while his free throw percentage is 66%. Tony Carr averages 19.9 points per game while playing 34.6 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 4.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.8 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage is at 81%.

Player Spotlight

Jae'Sean Tate averages 12.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 6.2 rebounds per contest and 3 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 56% and his free throw percentage is 59%. Keita Bates-Diop averages 19.2 points per game while playing 32.5 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 8.9 rebounds per game and has 1.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is at 78%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Nittany Lions allow 66.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 45th in the nation. They also allow a 42% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 88th and 161st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 32.9 rebounds a game which ranks 77th, and they give up 11.7 assists per contest, which puts them in 58th place in the country. They force 14.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 254th in college basketball. Penn State averages 75.3 points per contest this season, which ranks them 140th in Division 1. Their average scoring margin is 8.4 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 67th. Behind the arc they shoot 38% which is good for 61st in D-1. They average 35.5 rebounds per game and 13.8 assists per game, which ranks them 174th and 165th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 217th with 12.6 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Buckeyes surrender 66.6 points per contest, which ranks them 42nd in the country. Their defense allows a 42% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 50th and 148th in those defensive statistics. They rank 64th with 11.8 assists allowed per contest, and 21st with 31.0 rebounds surrendered per game. The Buckeyes are 110th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 12.4 per game this season. Ohio State is 110th in Division 1 with 76.1 points per game this year. They are 24th in the country in shooting at 49%, while their average scoring margin is 9.5. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 157th in the nation. They are 100th in college basketball in rebounding with 36.8 boards per game and 108th in assists per contest with 14.7. The Buckeyes are 275th in turnovers per game with 11.9.

Advanced Statistics

The Nittany Lions are 110th in the nation in offensive rating with 108.1, and their defensive rating of 96 is ranked 28th. In terms of pace they are 213th in the country with 69.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 100th. As a team they are 123rd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 296th in Division 1. Penn State is 211th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.9 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 48%, which is 54th in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Ohio State is 251st in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 48%, which is 65th in the nation. The Buckeyes are 56th in the country in offensive rating with 111.1, and their defensive rating of 97.3 is ranked 50th. In terms of pace they are 269th in Division 1 with 67.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 55th. As a team they are 58th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 33% of their shots, ranking 283rd in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Penn State/Ohio State college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Ohio State

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