Ohio State Buckeyes at Xavier Musketeers Betting Preview
Thursday night features a battle of unbeaten teams as the No. 19 Ohio State Buckeyes (3-0) take on the Xavier Musketeers (2-0). This intrastate battle will take place at the Cintas Center, with tipoff scheduled for 6:30 pm ET.
The Buckeyes have started off with a trio of mid-majors. After winning their first two games by just 11 points, the Buckeyes were able to get things going in their last matchup as they beat Bowling Green 89-58 on Monday.
In the win, EJ Liddell and Meechie Johnson Jr. scored 13 apiece, while Eugene Brown III and Zed Key both added 12.
Despite losing by five at halftime, the Xavier Musketeers were able to pick up the win in their last game, 73-59, over the Kent State Golden Flashes.
Paul Scruggs (23 points, seven rebounds) and Colby Jones (19 points, eight rebounds) led the attack for the Musketeers.
The Buckeyes are the favorites Thursday despite playing on the road. They are -125 to win while the Musketeers’ moneyline sits at +104. The spread features Xavier +1.5 (-110), and the over/under for total points is 141.5 (-110).
More Odds
Xavier currently has the third-best odds of winning the Big East at +800. Ohio State also has the third-best odds of winning the Big Ten at +700.
In terms of winning the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship, Ohio State is +2500 to win it all while Xavier is +10000.
By The Numbers
Ohio State is 4-8 against the spread in their last 12 games overall; however, they are 6-1 against the spread in their last seven road games. They are 7-1 straight up when facing off against the Big East in their last eight contests.
As the underdog, the Musketeers are 8-3 against the spread in their last 11. They are 13-2 in their last 15 at the Cintas Center.
Ohio State Looking To Make Statement Early On
Even though teams like Michigan, Purdue, and Illinois are getting more of the early notoriety in the Big Ten, head coach Chris Holtmann is looking for his team to make a run at winning the conference. While this is a non-conference matchup, the Buckeyes are still looking to make a statement as they move out of their mid-major opponents.
Leading the way for the Buckeyes thus far have been forwards E.J. Liddell and Zed Key. Liddell, in particular, has been off to a dynamite start averaging 22.3 points per game on 59.5% shooting. He is also averaging 6.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and two blocks per game.
For Key, he is the only other scorer averaging double digits as he has gone for 12.3 points, seven rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game.
Other contributors include Justin Ahrens (eight points, three rebounds), Meechie Johnson Jr. (eight points,) and Malachi Branham (7.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, one steal).
Xavier Looking For Home Upset
Especially welcoming in a ranked team, the Xavier Musketeers have an opportunity to make a statement early on and possibly garner some top-25 attention.
To this point, the team has been led by guards Paul Scruggs and Colby Jones. Scruggs has led the team averaging 20 points, six rebounds, 4.5 assists, three steals, and 1.5 blocks per game.
For Jones, he is averaging 17.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and two steals per game.
After these two, there is a bit of a drop-off as Jack Nunge is averaging nine points and five rebounds, but no other Musketeer is averaging more than 6.5 points per game.
Take Buckeyes To Win
While the Buckeyes almost suffered an embarrassing loss in their opener this season, they seem to have settled in as of late. Not only have they won three in a row, but their depth really was evident in their big win over Kent State as four players scored in double digits.
The question will be whether they can shut down Paul Scruggs and Colby Jones in this one. If they can at least contain the duo and force other Musketeers to beat them, they should be in good shape. If they allow them to go off, though, it could be an upset in the making.
While Xavier has won their first two, neither have been particularly pretty. With that in mind, take Ohio State, who seems to have found their groove a bit, to win in this one despite playing on the road.
Take the Buckeyes to both win and cover the 1.5-point spread.
