Ohio State Buckeyes vs Michigan State Spartans Prediction, 2/25/2021 College Basketball Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Ohio State Buckeyes vs Michigan State Spartans

Date: Thursday, February 25, 2021

Location: Breslin Center in East Lansing, MI

TV: ESPN

Odds/Point Spread: Ohio State (-5.5)

The Michigan State Spartans (12-9) host the Ohio State Buckeyes (18-5) at Breslin Center on Thursday. The spread on this game has Ohio State as 5.5-point favorites. The total is set at 148.

Ohio State heads into this one with a win-loss record of 18-5 this season. They lose possession via turnover 10.3 times per contest and as a unit they commit 18.0 personal fouls every game. As a team, Ohio State is pulling in 36.6 boards per game and has earned 297 assists for the season, which is 92nd in the country in terms of passing. The Buckeyes are hitting 36.8% on shots from 3-point land (194 of 527) and 77.7% from the free throw line. They currently have an average of 78.5 pts per contest (44th in Division 1) while connecting on 46.4% from the floor. When they are on defense, the Buckeyes are able to force 10.6 turnovers per game while drawing 19.4 fouls. They concede 34.3% from 3-point land and they are ranked 161st in D-1 in PPG from their opponents (69.6). The Buckeyes are allowing a FG percentage of 42.0% (558 of 1,327) and they concede 32.6 boards per contest as a group. They are 274th in college hoops in giving up assists to the opposition with 298 surrendered on the campaign.

The Ohio State Buckeyes played the Michigan Wolverines and walked away from this one with a loss by a score of 92-87 in their last game. Ohio State ended the contest with a 53.3% field goal percentage (32 out of 60) and buried 11 of their 22 3-point shots. At the free throw line, the Buckeyes knocked down 12 of 13 attempts for a rate of 92.3%. When it comes to hauling in boards, they compiled 24 with 5 of them being offensive. They also recorded 11 dimes in the game while earning 3 steals and 2 blocks. Pertaining to defense, Ohio State allowed 53.3% from the field on 32 of 60 shooting. Michigan doled out 19 assists and had 1 steal for this game. On top of that, the Wolverines collected 28 rebounds (9 offensive, 19 defensive) and added 2 blocked shots. Michigan ended up going 79.2% from the charity stripe by burying 19 of their 24 tries. They also converted 11 of their 23 shots from distance.

Duane Washington is one player who was a major factor for this game. He totaled 30 points on 12 out of 18 shooting. He was on the hardwood for 32 mins and pulled down 1 board. Washington finished the game shooting 66.7% from the floor and earned 3 dimes. One more player that was a major factor in this game for the Buckeyes was E.J. Liddell. He collected 10 rebounds in 29 min on the court. He went 46.7% from the floor for this game by hitting 7-of-15 (23 points). When the final whistle blew, Liddell had accumulated 3 assists.

Michigan State has a record of 12-9 so far this year. The Spartans are committing 19.9 personal fouls per contest while shooting 73.4% from the free throw line. They are earning an assist 17.0 times per contest (19th in college basketball) and they lose possession via turnover 13.4 times per game. Michigan State has accounted for 1,497 pts for the year (71.3 per game) and they grab 38.2 rebounds per contest. When it comes to executing on offense, the Spartans are hitting on 43.1% from the floor, which has them ranked 230th in the nation. The Spartans on defense are ranked 218th in D-1 in PPG given up with 71.7. The Michigan State defense allows 31.5% on three-point shots (133 of 422) and opponents are converting on 70.4% of their foul shots. They have surrendered 13.6 dimes and 34.8 boards per contest, which is ranked 228th and 169th in college basketball. They are forcing 10.8 turnovers per game and have let teams shoot 42.5% from the floor (143rd in D-1).

When they last stepped on the hardwood, the Michigan State Spartans got the victory with a final of 81-72 when they faced the Illinois Fighting Illini. The Spartans pulled down 26 defensive rebounds and 8 offensive boards for a total of 34 for the matchup. They turned away 9 shots while earning 7 steals for this game. The Fighting Illini were called for 19 personal fouls in the game which got the Spartans to the charity stripe for a total of 20 shots. They were able to knock down 13 of them for a rate of 65.0%. In reference to shooting from 3-point land, Michigan State made 4 out of 8 attempts (50.0%). When all was said and done, the Spartans shot 32 for 59 from the floor which had them at 54.2%. The Spartans permitted the Fighting Illini to bury 24 out of 60 attempts from the field which had them sitting at 40.0% for this game. They wrapped up this game 29.4% from downtown by shooting 5 of 17 and ended up shooting 19 out of 34 at the free throw line (55.9%). In regard to cleaning up the glass, Michigan State allowed Illinois to collect 40 overall (16 on the offensive side).

Aaron Henry was important for the Spartans for this game. He buried 9 of 19 in this contest for a rate of 47.4%, and accounted for 6 rebounds. Henry earned 20 points in his 39 mins on the court and accumulated 5 dimes in the matchup. Another guy that was pivotal for Michigan State was Joshua Langford. He accumulated 1 assist in 36 minutes on the court, and he knocked down 6 out of 11 from the floor. Langford finished going 54.5% from the floor and also collecting 15 points and 16 rebounds.

Who will win tonight's college basketball game against the spread?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Michigan State (+5.5)

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