Posted on
1/22/2008 3:41:19 PM
NCAA Basketball Betting – Illinois at Ohio State
By Charles Jay
The Ohio State Buckeyes (12-6 SU, 8-6 ATS), who are trying to break a three-game losing streak, play host to the Fighting Illini of Illinois (9-10 SU, 7-12 ATS) in a Big ten rematch slated for 9 PM ET on Tuesday at the Value City Arena in Columbus.
In the BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds, the Buckeyes are listed at -7.5, with the total posted at 125.5 points.
Here are some of the NCAAB betting trends and stats relative to this matchup:
* ILL has lost six of its last seven games SU
* ILL has played five of its last six games OVER the total
* ILL has covered two of its last six games
* ILL has lost its last five games on the road SU
* ILL has played four of its last six road games OVER the total
* OSU has won eight of its last 11 games SU
* OSU has covered four of its last six games
* OSU has won its last six home games SU
* OSU has covered the last four meetings
* OSU has covered the last five meetings as the home team
* OSU has won five of the last six meetings SU as the home team
* Three of the last four meetings have gone UNDER the total
* OSU has had the shooting edge in each of the last four meetings
* ILL is shooting 43.6% from the field
* ILL is scoring 65.9 points per game
* ILL is averaging 35.2 rebounds per game
* OSU is allowing 37.4% shooting by opponents
* OSU is hitting 7.1 three-pointers per game
* OSU is averaging 6.2 steals a game
Ohio State has suffered tough recent losses to both Tennessee and Michigan State, but there is no question that Thad Matta's squad, which went through a lot of player defections from last year's national championship finalist, is growing up. The Buckeyes looked downright overmatched against teams like Texas A&M and Butler earlier in the season, but now they are being competitive with upper-crust squads, and are handling the teams they should in conference play, including the Illini, who went down to 75-58 defeat at Champaign on January 3.
In that game Jamar Butler was impossible to handle, hitting 10-17 from the field and chalking up 32 points. And the Buckeyes went on a 15-2 run after falling behind in the second half. Butler is still the team's most consistent scorer, and he's getting some help lately from Othello Hunter (56% FG's).
Both of these teams have recently receded in the second half to suffer disappointing losses (Ohio State did it against Tennessee), but Illinois seems to be doing it on a much more consistent basis. Ohio State has played some of the nations' best, and that is reflected in their #24 RPI ranking, despite a 12-6 record.
The difference here, aside from Illinois' second-half collapses, may lie in its inability to hit free throws (just 59%), along with Ohio State's edge in proficiency from beyond the arc (7.1 three-pointers per game). We'll lay the points with the Buckeyes, the 7.5-point favorite in the BetUS NCAAB betting odds.
BetUS NCAA basketball betting odds: OHIO STATE -7.5, Total 125.5
JAY'S PLAY: OHIO STATE
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(Charles Jay of TotalActionExtra.com hasn't been to Pittsburgh lately, but he's got nerves of steel. He currently is a regular contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)