Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Kansas Jayhawks

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Ohio State (Off)
Game Total Line: (Off)
(wagering lines available at 5Dimes)

In an early season showdown between two of the best programs in men’s college basketball, the Ohio State Buckeyes, out of the Big Ten head into Phog Allen Fieldhouse this Saturday afternoon to face-off against the Big 12’s Kansas Jayhawks. Tip-off for this game is slated for 3:30 p.m. (ET) and it will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

Ohio State started the season ranked third in the AP’s preseason poll and in just eight games has cemented its position at the top polls with an 81-75 victory over then-No. 8 Florida as an 8.5-point home favorite and a dominating 85-63 romp over then- No. 4 Duke on Nov. 29 as a 7.5-point home favorite. The Buckeyes have also been profitable against the spread with a 3-1 record in games with posted lines. The total has gone 2-2 in the four games.

Jared Sullinger is Ohio State’s leading scorer with 19.1 points a game and is pulling down 10.3 rebounds but he remains questionable for Saturday after suffering back spasms. If he cannot go, look for William Buford, who is averaging 16 points and 4.4 rebounds and Deshaun Thomas, who is third in scoring with 12.9 points to fill the void. With Sullinger in the lineup, the Buckeyes are ranked 14th in nation with 82.5 points a game and are the eighth-best shooting team in the country; hitting 50.9 percent of their shots from the field.

Kansas comes into this game at 6-2 SU and 4-4 ATS after Tuesday night’s 88-80 victory over Long Beach State as a 13.5-point home favorite. The total went ‘over’ the 145.5-point line, but has stayed ‘under’ in six of the Jayhawks seven previous games. Their two straight-up losses were a 75-65 setback to then-No.2 Kentucky as 6.5-point underdogs and a 68-61 loss to Duke on Nov.23 as five-point dogs.

The Jayhawks boast a one-two punch with Thomas Robinson and Tyshawn Taylor. Robinson leads the team with 17.4 points and 12 rebounds a game while Taylor is averaging 16.8 points and 3.6 assists. As a team, Kansas is averaging 75 points a game and shooting 47.5 percent from the floor.

Ohio State is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 non-conference games and 6-2 ATS in their last eight games overall. The total has gone ‘over’ in its last four games on the road.

Kansas is just 1-10 ATS in its last 11 games against the Big Ten and the total has stayed ‘under’ in six of its last seven games overall.

Against the Spread Game Pick

While this game hinges on Sullinger’s ability to go, all indications are that he will be in the lineup on Saturday. If this is the case, stick with the Buckeyes to win and cover on the road as they are simply playing at a higher level at this point in the season than the Jayhawks.
Take Ohio State up to minus 6 points.