Two teams having a rough February will have the chance to beat each other up, with the Penn State Nittany Lions (16-11, 7-9 Big Ten) traveling to Columbus to face the Ohio State Buckeyes (11-16, 3-13 Big Ten).
The visiting Nittany Lions are 2-4 this month after winning their last two games. Those wins were crucial, as right now they’re on the bubble for an NCAA Tournament berth. They’ll need to pick up a road win tonight to keep building their resume, but they’re only 2-7 away from home.
Ohio State is stuck in a rut that’s derailed a once-promising season. The Buckeyes were ranked at the beginning of January and since then have gone 1-13, including their active eight-game losing streak. A spot in the NCAA Tournament isn’t in Ohio State’s cards barring a Big Ten Tournament win.
A school fighting for the postseason and a school desperate for another win are meeting tonight. Let’s see who will prevail in this conference clash.
Penn State vs. Ohio State Betting Odds
| Team | Spread | Total | Money Line |
| Penn State | +2.5 (-110) | Over 142.5 (-110) | +120 |
| Ohio State | -2.5 (-110) | Under 142.5 (-110) | -140 |
Penn State vs. Ohio State Match Details
Fixture: Penn State Nittany Lions @ Ohio State Buckeyes
Date and Time: Thursday, February 23, 2023, 6:30 p.m. EST
Venue: Value City Arena
Penn State vs. Ohio State Key Stats
The Buckeyes’ eight-game losing streak has seen their offense become stagnant. During the stretch, they are only putting up 61.6 points per game, far below their average of 73.0 this year. They’ve only put up 70 or more points twice in the eight games. In their last five games, their three-point percentage is 26.9%.
Penn State’s defense has been struggling lately too. Over their past five games, they’re giving up 75.0 points per game, much higher than their season average of 68.7. In those five games, opponents are shooting 51.1% against them.
Ohio State should have the rebounding edge. The Buckeyes’ average rebounding margin this season is +3.1 per game. Penn State’s is -3.0 per game this season.
These offenses are both top-five in shooting percentage among Big Ten schools this season. The Nittany Lions hit 46.8% of their shots, and the Buckeyes hit 45.7% of theirs. Of course, that hasn’t been the case for Ohio State lately.
Penn State vs. Ohio State Betting Prediction
I think this is the game where Ohio State finally snaps the streak. Their struggling offense gets to face a defense struggling just as much, while on their home floor. They’re also matching up with a Penn State team that hasn’t succeeded on the road this season. The offense should finally bounce back, they should control the glass, and their defense will do enough to get the win. Take the Buckeyes to finally win again.
