by Ultimatecapper.com Staff
It ain't Bo vs. Woody, but it is a Saturday afternoon in Columbuswith Michigan and Ohio State (hoops, that is) in a Big Ten battle.
The Buckeyes are coming off a big road win at Michigan StateWednesday that boosted them into a first-place tie with Iowa at9-4. Michigan also got a big win this week, knocking off Illinoisin Ann Arbor Tuesday. But the Wolverines have struggled a bitsince a 16-3 start; they're just 2-4 over their last six gamesand sit in fifth place as the conference regular season comesto its last week.
Ohio State has won six of its last seven games and is a shoo-infor a spot in the NCAA tournament. But Michigan could probablyuse a quality road win to assure itself of its first dance inMarch since 1998.
The Wolverines are 12-8 against the spread this season, 5-5straight up and 5-3 ats on the road, 5-2 ats as a dog and 8-5ats in the Big 10.
The Buckeyes are 11-7 ats this season, 14-1 straight up butjust 5-5 ats at home, 7-5 ats as chalk and a solid 9-4 ats inconference play.
Ohio State beat Michigan at Crisler Arena 94-85 two weeks ago.Michigan has won three of the last five in the series.
The Wolverines are shooting 49 percent from the field, 77 percentfrom the line, 38 percent from 3-point range and are outreboundingopponents by five a game. But in the last three weeks, the defensehas allowed 94 points to both Iowa and Ohio State, 90 points toMichigan State and 84 points to Purdue. Needless to say, Michiganlost all four of those games.
Hot-shooting Ohio State cooled a bit in recent back-to-backgames with Wisconsin and Northwestern, but found its touch inthe win at Michigan State. On the season the Buckeyes are hitting49 percent from the floor, 41 percent from beyond the arc, and72 percent from the line.
Wolverine forward Lester Abram (11.5 ppg) remains doubtful forSaturday's game with an ankle injury.
