Northwestern at Ohio State NCAA Basketball Picks & Predictions 2/20/2019

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Value City Arena

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Northwestern Wildcats travel to Value City Arena to play the Ohio State Buckeyes on Wednesday, February 20, 2019. The opening line for this matchup has Ohio State as 7.5 point favorites.

Northwestern heads into this matchup with a mark of 12-13. They currently have a point differential of 2.5 as they are averaging 67.0 points per contest while giving up 64.5 per game. Ohio State has an overall mark of 16-9. They are averaging 70.6 points per contest and giving up 64.6, which is a point differential of 6.0.

Valuable Northwestern Wildcats Betting Trends

The Northwestern Wildcats are 12-13-0 against the spread

The Northwestern Wildcats are 8-16-1 against the over/under

Important Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Trends

The Ohio State Buckeyes are 10-15-0 against the spread

The Ohio State Buckeyes are 11-13-1 against the over/under

Key Northwestern Wildcats Injuries

01/22/19 F Pete Nance Illness is out indefinitely

Key Ohio State Buckeyes Injuries

11/07/18 C Micah Potter Transferred is out for season

Player Spotlight

Vic Law comes into this contest averaging 15.5 points per game while playing 33.0 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 6.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 52% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 81%. Dererk Pardon averages 13.6 points per game in 32.2 minutes per contest this season. He averages 1.8 assists per contest and 7.8 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 58% for the year while his free throw percentage is 66%.

Player Spotlight

Kaleb Wesson averages 14.4 points per game while playing 25.2 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 6.4 rebounds per game and has 1.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 52% and his free throw percentage is at 72%. C.J. Jackson averages 12.8 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.8 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.3 rebounds per contest and 3.5 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is 79%.

Useful Team Statistics

Northwestern averages 67.0 points per contest this season, which ranks them 309th in the NCAA. Their average scoring margin is 2.5 and their shooting percentage is 41% as a team, which has them ranked 318th. Behind the arc they shoot 33% which is good for 271st in the nation. They average 34.0 rebounds per game and 14.3 assists per game, which ranks them 261st and 105th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 298th with 11.6 per game. The Wildcats allow 64.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 27th in the country. They also allow a 42% shooting percentage and a 30% average from behind the arc, ranking them 96th and 12th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 35.2 rebounds a game which ranks 197th and they give up 13.0 assists per contest, which puts them in 173rd place in Division 1. They force 12.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 123rd in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Ohio State is 243rd in the country with 70.6 points per game this year. They are 157th in Division 1 in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 6.0. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 114th in the nation. They are 215th in the NCAA in rebounding with 34.8 boards per game, and 144th in assists per contest with 13.8. The Buckeyes are 166th in turnovers per game with 13.2. The Buckeyes surrender 64.6 points per contest, which ranks them 30th in D-1. Their defense allows a 41% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 44th and 98th in those defensive statistics. They rank 39th with 11.0 assists allowed per contest and 68th with 32.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Buckeyes are 143rd in country in forcing turnovers with 13.0 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Wildcats have an offensive rating of 99.1, which is ranked 285th. They are 286th in college basketball in pace with 67.3 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 47% is 313th. As a unit they are 305th in the nation in true shooting percentage with 51% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shot attempts, ranking 136th in D-1. Northwestern is 270th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.1 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Ohio State is 99th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.2 times per 100 possessions. The Buckeyes have an offensive rating of 105.1, which is ranked 151st. They are 289th in D-1 in pace with 67.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 142nd. As a unit they are 120th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shot attempts, ranking 169th in the country.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Ohio State -7.5

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Tony Sink