The Ohio State Buckeyes return home following a two-game road swing as they welcome the No. 19 Maryland Terrapins to Value City Arena. Tonight’s game features two teams trending in opposite directions as Ohio State has dropped its last three games, while Maryland is looking to extend its six-game winning streak. Despite this recent stretch, it is the Buckeyes who are 3-point favorites with the total Sportsbook at 139 points.
- The total has gone OVER in seven of Maryland’s last eight games.
- Ohio State is 4-3 SU and 1-6 ATS in its last seven games.
- Maryland is 9-2 SU and 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games.
Maryland vs Ohio State Game Center
Buckeyes look for an offensive boost at home
Ohio State was ranked as high as 16th in the AP poll just 11 days ago, but three consecutive losses now have it on the outside looking in and trying to find any footing. An 86-77 loss to then-No. 8 Michigan State isn’t a bad loss, but the Buckeyes’ offense came to a standstill in the following two games as they were dropped 64-61 at Rutgers and 72-62 at Iowa. One big concern for the Buckeyes in those two most recent losses was turnovers as they had a combined 34, including a season-high 21 vs Iowa.
Those turnovers contributed to a drop in offensive production as the 62 and 61 points represented two of their three lowest-scoring games this season. Overall, Ohio State scores 75.9 points per game to rank 91st in the nation, an average that rises to 80.1 ppg when it plays in front of its home crowd. Its offense likes to run through sophomore forward Kaleb Wesson, who is leading the team with 16.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Outside of Wesson, the Buckeyes have just one other player averaging double-digit points per game in senior guard C.J. Jackson (12.9 ppg).
Defensively, they have been quite good at keeping points off the board, having just four opponents score more than 70 points against them. Overall, they’re surrendering just 64.2 ppg, good for the No. 24 mark in college basketball. They limit their foes to just 32.9 rebounds per game, the 65th-fewest in the nation, and they defend long-range shots well, giving up just 5.9 triples per game (21st).
Road games haven’t been much of an issue for the Terrapins
Maryland has been on an absolute tear recently, rattling off six straight victories, including five in a row against Big Ten opponents and two of them coming on the road. Additionally, the Terrapins have two wins over then-ranked opponents in then-No. 24 Nebraska and then-No. 22 Indiana. The games have been close over this winning streak, though, as three of the victories have come by fewer than five points and the overall winning margin is 8.67.
Offensively, the Terrapins rely on points inside the arc, as they attempt just 20.3 three-pointers per game (97th-fewest in the nation) and just 28.4 percent of their total points come from out there. Instead, they like to move the ball inside to sophomore forward Bruno Fernando or freshman forward Jalen Smith. Fernando is second on the team in scoring at 14.6 ppg and leads the squad with 9.9 rebounds per game, while Smith chips in 12.2 points and 7.1 boards per game. The team ranks 50th with a 47.3 shooting percentage.
On the defensive side of the ball, they actually clamp down better on the road. Overall, they’re giving up 65.8 ppg to rate 38th in college basketball but that drops to 58 ppg in away games for third-best in the NCAA. With a pair of towering, youthful forwards, rebounds are hard to secure against Maryland as it gives up the fourth-fewest rebounds per game at just 29.1 while grabbing the 20th-most at 40.2. Lastly, and again with the big men, the Terrapins average 5.1 blocks per game to rank 22nd and that could be a factor in this game as Ohio State ranks 133rd in having 3.1 shots blocked per game.
Is an OVER in store for tonight’s game?
The OVER has been a reliable bet for both Maryland and Ohio State recently and Sportsbook has the total Sportsbook at 139 points. The Terrapins have gone OVER in seven of their last eight games with all seven of those games going OVER 139 points, while the Buckeyes have gone OVER 139 points in five of their last eight games.
Additionally, the total has gone OVER in the last three meetings between these teams with an average combined score of 157. I think we could be in store for another OVER between Maryland and Ohio State.
My take on Maryland vs Ohio State
I like Maryland +3 in tonight’s game. It’s going to be a real battle under the rim between the Kaleb Wesson for the Buckeyes and Fernando and Smith for the Terrapins, with neither team having much success from beyond the arc.
Additionally, Maryland’s defense really steps up on the road and it is 3-1 SU and 4-0 ATS in its four games away from home this season. Lastly, Ohio State is just 1-6 ATS in its last seven games, with three losses, while Maryland is 9-2 SU and 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games.
