Wisconsin Badgers at Ohio St Buckeyes, Value City Arena, Columbus, OH
Sunday March 6, 2011, 4:00 pm Eastern, TV: CBS
Opening Line: Ohio St -7 1/2
Current Line: Ohio St -8
Opening Total: 127 1/2
Current Total: 128
Money Line: Ohio St -380 / Wisconsin +320
Yesterday, the Iowa Hawkeyes upset Purdue 67-65 in Iowa City. The win gave Ohio St the Big Ten title outright no matter what they do in this game against Wisconsin. Ohio St has bigger goals in mind though. They are ranked #1 in both polls with a 28-2 record. Ohio St is 15-2 in conference. The Buckeyes two losses are on the road at Purdue and Wisconsin. The Buckeyes have all but locked up one of the four number one seeds in the NCAA Tournament. Ohio St looks to avenge one of their two losses as they host #10 Wisconsin Sunday. The Badgers are 23-6 overall and 13-4 in conference. Wisconsin beat Ohio St in Madison February 12. Ohio St had a 12 point lead in the second half before Wisconsin stormed back to win. Ohio St has won 3 striahgt games since that game including an 82-61 victory at Penn St Tuesday night. Wisconsin has gone 4-1 since that game, with the loss coming at Purdue. Wisconsin has won 4 straight including a 77-67 win at Indiana Thursday night.
Ohio St leads the all time series against Wisconsin 81-65. Wisconsin has won 3 of the last 5 games in the series but Ohio St is 3-2 ATS in those games. Four of those five have gone under the total. Wisconsin is 9-20 ATS versus conference foes allowing 64 points or fewer the last 3 seasons. Ohio St is 17-7 ATS in games after scoring 80 points or more the previous game the last 3 seasons.
Wisconsin has no significant injuries right now. Senior Forward Jon Leuer leads the team and is a candidate for national player of the year. Leuer is averaging 19 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1 block a game. He leads the team in scoring and rebounding. Leuer is shooting 39.5% from 3-point range and 84.7% from the free throw line. Guard Jordan Taylor averages 18.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists to lead the team, and 0.7 steals a game to lead the team. Forward Keaton Nankivil averages 10.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks a game to lead the team. All three of the top scorers shoot better than 39.5% from 3-point range. Wisconsin is outscoring opponents 70-58 on the season. The Badgers shoot 45.1% from the field and 38.1% from 3-point range. Badger opponents are shooting 42.4% from the field. The Badgers make 83% of their free throws. Wisconsin averages 32.2 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of +4.1. Wisconsin averages 13.5 assists and 7.5 turnovers a game. The Badgers force 9.8 turnovers a game on defense. The Badgers average 3.5 steals and 3.1 blocks a game.
Ohio St has no significant injuries right now. The Buckeyes have four players averaging double digit scoring. Freshman Forward Jared Sullinger, also a national player of year candidate, is averaging 17.1 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1 steal a game. He leads the team in scoring and rebounding. Guard William Buford averages 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists a game. Guard/forward David Lighty averages 12.3 points, 4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.7 steals a game. Guard Jon Diebler averages 11.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.1 steals a game. Aaron Craft leads the team in assists with 4.6 a game and steals with 2.1 a game. Dallas Lauderdale leads the team in blocks with 1.5 a game. Ohio St is outscoring opponents 77-60 on the season. The Buckeyes shoot 49.5% from the field and 40.5% from 3-point range. Buckeye opponents are shooting 43% from the field. The Buckeyes shoot 70.6% from the free throw line. The Buckeyes average 34.1 rebounds, and have a rebounding margin of +4.4. Ohio St averages 16.2 assists, and 10.5 turnovers a game. They force 16 turnovers a game on defense. The Buckeyes average 7.7 steals and 3.1 blocks a game.
Ohio St had Wisconsin on the ropes in Madison and let them come back. That should be enough motivation to keep Ohio St from taking the foot off the gas considering they already clinched the Big Ten regular season title. Both of these teams are going to be top 3 seeds in the NCAA tournament and could play each other again next Sunday in the Big Ten Championship game, though Purdue might have something to say about that.
Our college basketball handicappers are red hot this season. Don’t miss out out on any more winners as postseason play approaches.
