GAME:  #765 Ohio State vs #766 Northwestern
TIME:    12/26/2020 – 2:00p EST
SPREAD:   Ohio State -3
TOTAL:      140

The #23 Ohio State Buckeyes (7-1, 1-1) have a BIG 10 Conference road game against the Northwestern Wildcats (5-1, 2-0) at the Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Illinois on Saturday at 2 p.m. EST. Ohio State beat Rutgers by 12 at home in its last outing while Northwestern defeated Indiana by a score of 74-67 on Wednesday. These teams met once last season when Ohio State won by a score of 59-71. 

OHIO STATE BUCKEYES

The Ohio State Buckeyes are averaging 77 points per game on 44% field goal shooting while adding 6.9 three-pointers per game on 32% field goal shooting on the offensive end.  The Buckeyes are allowing 65 points per game on 40% field-goal shooting on the defensive end while forcing 13 turnovers per game. 

NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS

The Northwestern Wildcats are averaging 87 points per game on 48% field goal shooting adding 10.7 3-pointers per game on 42% field goal shooting on the offensive end. The Wildcats are allowing only 61 points per game on 36% field goal shooting while forcing 13.2 turnovers per game.

TRENDS(covers.com)

OHIO STATE

• The Buckeyes are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 games as a favorite.
• The Buckeyes are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 Saturday games.
• The Buckeyes are 13-6-1 ATS in their last 20 games overall.

NORTHWESTERN

• The Wildcats are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
• The Wildcats are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Saturday games.
• The Wildcats are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.

HEAD TO HEAD

• The favorite is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.

OHIO STATE vs NORTHWESTERN PREDICTION

The Ohio State offense has recorded a turnover on only 14.2 percent of its possessions, which is #8 in the nation. The Northwestern defense has forced opposing teams to turn the ball over on just 18.2 percent of all possessions ranking #253. Northwestern’s big wins over the Spartans and the Hoosiers make them appear to be a top team. It is possible but they also caught both of these teams on their heels while they were in a situational spot. Northwestern is now in a situational spot because they have had no time to prepare for the Buckeyes as they did in their other big wins. Northwestern also plays the #4 Iowa Hawkeyes in 3 days which puts them in a bad spot as Ohio State is starting to turn it up a notch. The Buckeyes have been undervalued by the public while they will be all over Northwestern in this one. The Sharps are on the Buckeyes with money starting to drive up the cost even while the money is coming in on the Wildcats. The Bookie is pounding the Ohio State Buckeyes in this one to win and cover the spread. 

BETTING ANGLES:

The Bookie:        Ohio St -3
Fade the Public:  no data
Sharp Action:      Ohio St