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Big Ten rivals will collide, as the Ohio State Buckeyes will host the Penn State Nittany Lions Thursday night. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN straight from Value City Arena in Columbus, OH.
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Ohio State is favored at -7.5 and 81 percent favorites according to ESPN’s matchup predictor. The Buckeyes have gone 9-4 at home this season and take on a Nittany Lions team that has gone 2-6 on the road. Both teams enter this game coming off a win. For Ohio State, it was an 76-62 victory over Rutgers. That was just their second win out of their last eight games. Penn State was able to snap an eight-game losing streak with an 59-52 victory over Northwestern. Ohio State is -7.5 at home.
Buckeyes Fighting for NCAA Life
Ohio State is having a down season, as they currently sit at 14-7 and 8th in the Big Ten. Chris Holtmann is in his second year as head coach for the Buckeyes, and has just a 4-6 conference record after going 15-3 in the Big Ten last season. This team is led by sophomore forward Kaleb Wesson and senior guard C.J. Jackson. Wesson dropped 27 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds in Ohio State’s win over Rutgers. On the season, the sophomore forward is averaging a team-high 15.3 ppg and 6.7 rpg. Jackson had himself a game against Rutgers as well, scoring 20 points and 7 rebounds.
The senior guard is second on the team in scoring, with 12.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 3.7 apg. Sophomore forward Kyle Young leads the team in field goal percentage at 73.2 percent.
Nittany Lions Have Struggled Big Time
Penn State seeks their second conference win of the season, as they’re at the bottom of the Big Ten with an 8-14 record. They’re just 1-10 in conference play this season, with that one Big Ten win coming in their last game against Northwestern. Pat Chambers has been coaching the Nittany Lions since 2011. His best season as head coach came last season, when his team won the NIT Championship with a 26-13 record. They went 9-9 last season in conference play, the best record against the Big Ten in Chambers time with Penn State. This team is led by junior forward Lamar Stevens and freshman guard Rasir Bolton. Stevens has been on a bit of a tear recently, scoring 18 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists against Northwestern. Previous to that game Stevens had games of 24 points, 21 points and 27 points. The junior forward leads his team in scoring, with 18.9 ppg and 7.7 rpg. Bolton played a solid game against Northwestern, scoring 14 points and tacking on 6 rebounds and a couple assists. Bolton averages the second-most points for Penn State with 11.8 ppg. Mike Watkins is the 6’9” junior forward who leads this team in both rebounds (8.4 rpg) and field goal percentage (55.9%).
Pick and Prediction
We’ll see what Penn State is able to do on the road Thursday night. Our guess is not enough. We’re rolling with the Buckeyes at home in this one.
