The Ohio State Buckeyes will hit the floor running against the visiting Northwestern Wildcats Thursday, looking to improve their record and boost wagering bankrolls in the process.

This season, the Buckeyes are 17-6 overall and 12-9 ATS ATS, while the Wildcats are 13-11 and 11-10 ATS against the number. As for the totals, Ohio State boasts a 8-11-1 on the OU, and Northwestern is 8-9-1.



View Northwestern vs Ohio State Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
College basketball odds makers at Sportsbook opened the Ohio State Buckeyes as 16-point favorites in this matchup. Check for the latest spread and over-under at the sportsbook.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
According to new college basketball power rankings here, it's the No. 15-ranked Buckeyes and the No. 192-rated Wildcats in this matchup. Computer formulas aimed at predicting NCAAB scores point to a 77-66 win for the Buckeyes on Thursday.



How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Ohio State's No. 75 nationally ranked offense (71.7 points per game) against a Wildcats defense that sits as the No. 78 at 62.1 PPG. The Buckeyes have been averaging 46% from the field, more than the Wildcats have managed so far this season (41.6% on average).

Defensively, Northwestern features the nation's No. 62-rated defense on the road, allowing 64.3 points per game. Ohio State, meanwhile, comes in at No. 85 nationally in scoring at home.

In their last action, Northwestern was a 71-57 loser on the road against Iowa. They failed to cover the 8-point spread as underdogs. Reggie Hearn scored 13 points in a futile effort to lead the Wildcats to a win (they lost 71-57 to Iowa at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Saturday).

Ohio State lost its last outing, an 81-68 result against Indiana on February 10. They failed to cover in that game as a 1.5-point favorite. Deshaun Thomas went off for 26 points and added 7 rebounds but it wasn't enough as Indiana handed Ohio State an 81-68 defeat at Value City Arena.


Northwestern Wildcats Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 8-2
Before playing Illinois are 3-7
After playing Iowa are 4-6
After a loss are 7-3

Ohio State Buckeyes Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 7-3
Before playing Wisconsin are 9-1
After playing Indiana are 8-2
After a loss are 9-1

A few Wildcats at Buckeyes trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Northwestern's last 7 games when playing on the road against Ohio State
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Northwestern's last 6 games on the road
Northwestern is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Northwestern is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Ohio State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Northwestern
Ohio State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Northwestern
Ohio State is 17-2 SU in its last 19 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Ohio State's last 6 games at home


Next up:
Northwestern home to Illinois, Sunday, February 17
Ohio State at Wisconsin, Sunday, February 17