Ohio St. Buckeyes vs. Maryland Terrapins Analysis & Free Pick

Ohio State (10-4 SU 7-7 ATS) vs. Maryland (10-5 SU 9-6 ATS)
When: Sunday, January 8th: 1:00 ET
Where: XFINITY Center College Park, MD
TV: ESPN
Point Spread: OHIOST -2/ MARY +2
Total: 141.0
Money Line: Ohio State Buckeyes -132/ Maryland Terrapins +107

The Buckeyes travel to Maryland to take on the Terrapins in Sunday college basketball. The odds board lists the visitor as a -2.5 favorite, with the total line offered up at 141 points. Tip-off at the Xfinity Center is scheduled for 1:00 PM ET.

Line Movement

Ohio State hit the board as a -1.5 favorite, but that line has been on the move hitting -2.5 on most boards now. The total opened at as high as 141.5 and has dropped one point to 140.5.

Last Game Info

Going into their last game, Ohio State was the betting favorite at -1.5 but fell to Purdue by a score of 71-69. The combined 140 points finished above the 139.5 total line.

Maryland most recently fell to Rutgers (64-50). Not only did the Terrapins lose straight-up, but they picked up an ATS defeat as +5.5 point underdogs. The combined 114 points did not surpass the 131 total line.

Current Form

Ohio State
Over their last five games, Ohio State has a straight-up record of 3-2 while going 3-2 vs. the spread. Over this stretch, the Buckeyes’ offense averages 82.2 points per game while hitting 51.2% of their shots from the field. On the defensive end of the floor, they have allowed opponents to shoot 38.7% from the field while allowing 67.4 points per contest.

Maryland
In their previous five contests, Maryland is 2-3 straight-up and 1-4 vs. the spread. In these five games, they have a scoring average of 62.2 points per game on a shooting percentage of 41.9%. Defensively, they allow teams to hit 43.4% of their shots while giving up 68.2 points per game.

Average Power Rating Of Opponents Played

This season, the combined power rating of Ohio State’s opponents comes in at 77.8. On the other side, Maryland’s combined opponent power rating sits at 77.6.

How Does Ohio State Fare On The Road?

For the season, the Buckeyes have played four road games and have a record of 2-2. In these contests, Ohio State is 2-2 vs. the spread. Offensively, they have averaged 75.8 points per game on a shooting percentage of 45.8%. On defense, the Buckeyes allow 69.8 points per contest when playing away from home. So far, opposing teams have a field goal percentage of 40.8% in these games.

How Does Maryland Fare At Home?

In their eight games at home, Maryland has a 5-3 record vs. the spread while going 7-1 straight-up. On offense, the Terrapins are shooting 47.0% on their home floor, leading to 74.9 points per game. Defensively, opponents are shooting 40.3% in these contests. The Maryland defense is allowing 61.6 points per game at home.

Offense vs. Defense

For the season, Ohio State is averaging 73.8 points per game (123rd) while posting an overall field goal percentage of 47.4%. In today’s game, they will be matched up against a Maryland defense that has allowed an average of 63.3 points per contest. This year, opponents have hit 40.3% of their shots vs. Maryland. On the other side, the Maryland Terrapins are coming into the game averaging 70.9 points per game on a shooting percentage of 43.3%. The Terrapins will be facing a defensive unit allowing an average of 64.9 points per contest. So far, teams have hit 40.0% of their shots vs. the Buckeyes.

Three-Point Shooting

From beyond the arc, Ohio State has a shooting percentage of 37.3% while ranking 374th in attempts per game. The Buckeyes will be facing a Maryland defense that has a 3-point field goal shooting percentage allowed of 27.8%. Maryland enters the game having hit 32.6% of their looks from deep while averaging 6.91 made 3’s per game. On the other end, Ohio State has allowed opponents to hit 28.8% of their shots from beyond the arc.

Injuries Of Note

Ohio State

• Sean McNeil (Questionable) Ankle
• Zed Key (Questionable) Shoulder

Maryland

• No Reported Injuries

Pick Against The Line

I think Ohio State may suffer a letdown in this spot after losing against top-ranked Purdue. They’re also dealing with some injuries, with S. McNeil and Z. Key both questionable to play today. Maryland has been horrible in their last two games, getting outscored 145 to 96, and they do play better at home, going 7-1, but I just can’t play them. The total does look solid bet, though, as both teams could be under 70 today. Take the UNDER 140.5