It wasn’t easy but Ohio State got past South Dakota State in the Round of 64 and the Buckeyes will continue their trek through the NCAA Tournament when they take on Gonzaga on Saturday. However, bettors should be wary of the Buckeyes entering this game with Chris Holtmann’s squad covering just once in its last six contests.
- Gonzaga is 14-0 SU in its last 14 games as a favorite.
- Ohio State is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games against teams with winning records.
- Ohio State is 13-31 SU in its last 44 games as an underdog.
Ohio State won its Round of 64 game thanks to a complete change in offensive identity. The Buckeyes took 40 shots from beyond the arc, more than double their season average. Though the shooting percentage itself wasn’t great – just 30 percent – the massive increase in attempts helped Ohio State top 80 points for just the third time in the last 15 games. That game saw star junior Keita Bates-Diop drop 24, his third consecutive game of at least that many points.
Things were a lot more uncomfortable than Gonzaga would have liked in its first game of the NCAA Tournament, as the Bulldogs just squeaked by upset-minded UNC Greensboro. The offense ran into a buzzsaw of a defense that held Gonzaga to 5-for-23 from beyond the arc. A big reason Gonzaga wasn’t able to pull away was Killian Tillie’s quick return to earth. After shooting an absurd 82.0 percent from the field and 84.6 percent from beyond the arc in Gonzaga’s previous seven games, Tillie went 1-for-6 from the floor and scored just two points.
Ohio State Buckeyes vs Gonzaga Bulldogs Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Gonzaga Bulldogs bring a 31-4 record (14-19-1 ATS) to this tilt against the 25-8 Buckeyes, who are 15-16 ATS. Those OVER/UNDER betting have witnessed Gonzaga go 17-17 so far and Ohio State go 10-21.
The Power Rankings at OddsShark show No. 20-rated Ohio State taking on No. 6-rated Gonzaga in this contest.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up Gonzaga's No. 11 nationally ranked offense (84.03 points per game) against a Ohio State defense that sits as the No. 39 at 66.88 PPG. The Bulldogs have been averaging 50.09% from the field, more than the Buckeyes have managed so far this season (48.12% on average).
Recent Outings Betting Recap
South Dakota State was victimized for 24 points and 12 rebounds by Keita Bates-Diop as the Buckeyes bested the Jackrabbits 81-73 in college basketball action on Thursday.
The Bulldogs got 19 points from Johnathan Williams III as Gonzaga slipped past UNC Greensboro 68-64 on Thursday at Taco Bell Arena.
