Ohio State vs. Cincinnati Odds
| Ohio State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -110 | 145.5 -110o / -110u | -170 |
| Cincinnati Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -110 | 145.5 -110o / -110u | +140 |
There's something great about two college basketball teams whose home courts are roughly 100 miles apart traveling over 4,000 miles away to play in a a tournament and meeting each other in the consolation bracket.
Oddly enough, despite their proximity to each other, this will be only the fifth regular-season meeting between the two teams since 1962.
The most recent meeting was their home-and-home series during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, which saw Ohio State win both games by the exact same score of 64-56.
The last time Cincinnati beat Ohio State was in the 1962 national championship. Can the Bearcats finally end their long losing streak in the Aloha State?
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes lost 88-77 to the Aztecs on Monday night, but it was a very different game than many expected.
Ohio State's offense shined against one of the best defenses in the country. After the game, Aztecs head coach Brian Dutcher said if they ran into Ohio State a month from now when they had more experience it would be another tough battle.
Ohio State is a young team — it has four freshmen and three transfers in its lineup. But it's also a very talented team.
Sean McNeil, the transfer from West Virginia, came up huge for the Buckeyes, leading the team with 22 points. Brice Sensabaugh wasn't far behind — racking up 17 — while Bruce Thornton came in as the third double-digit scorer for the Buckeyes.
The bench, as a whole, was a major factor against San Diego State, accounting for 27 of the Buckeyes' 77 points in the game.
One thing they didn't do well against the Aztecs that they should find more success with against Cincinnati is 3-point shooting. Ohio State made just 7-of-22 attempts from beyond the arc against San Diego State.
Cincinnati, meanwhile, is allowing teams to shoot better than 40% from 3-point range. Expect the Buckeyes to find success from deep on Tuesday afternoon.
Cincinnati Bearcats
The Bearcats actually played great against Arizona. Landers Nolley II recorded a career-high 33 points, hitting 9-of-14 shots from beyond the arc.
Meanwhile, the team as a whole turned the ball over just nine times. The Bearcats shot 47% from the field and a ridiculous 50% from 3-point range. They also made the most of the Wildcats' 10 turnovers, recording 18 points off of them.
However, it just wasn't enough, and the defense struggled to slow down the Wildcats in the end — Arizona went on to win, 101-93.
Cincinnati is a much better team than its record reflects, and I think it showed that against Arizona. The Bearcats did lose to NKU, but that's a very different situation — on the road against a team that got up for a big game.
I think the Bearcats can step up in a similar situation — albeit being very far from home — against a team they've been considered second-rate to for a very long time.
Ohio State vs. Cincinnati Betting Pick
The spread for this game opened with the Buckeyes as a 4.5-point favorite, and has since dropped down to 3.5 on some shops.
I think that number is right where it should be, and more importantly, I think we see a hard-fought game between these two teams from the Buckeye State.
Both Ohio State and Cincinnati excelled on the offensive side of the ball in their first game in Maui, and I think that continues in their second game.
And where some teams could lack motivation heading into a consolation bracket, I think this game may mean even more to these two given their relationship. It hasn't necessarily been a rivalry, but bragging rights are absolutely on the table.
Expect a hard-fought battle that comes down to the wire in a game I see going over the total. I would feel comfortable backing it at any number 148 or better.
Pick: Over 148 or Better |
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