Arizona vs Ohio State March Madness Betting!
The Buckeyes escaped their third round game against Iowa State with a victory. In my opinion they were outplayed but a win is a win.
The Buckeyes escaped their third round game against Iowa State with a victory. In my opinion they were outplayed but a win is a win.
The Buckeyes were happy to let Iona set the pace and beat them at their own game, winning by 25 while scoring 95 points in their opener. Don’t let that number fool you as they are far from an elite offensive team.
The Iona Gaels are in the NCAA Tournament for a second straight year. They are hoping to get rid of the bad taste in their mouths left from last year’s loss to BYU (they led by more than 20 points).
The Buckeyes are in a 4 way tie for second place in the Big Ten. All 4 of those teams are ranked and I think that Ohio State is probably the worst of the bunch. They have won their last three games but have not beaten any ranked opponents on the road this season.
The top of the Big Ten is a huge battle this season. Right now the Buckeyes are sitting in a three way tie for second in the conference with Wisconsin and Michigan – a couple of games back of Indiana and Michigan State (one of whom has to lose next week).
The Buckeyes are in the thick of the Big Ten race, hanging out with the Wolverines and the other basketball power from that state in second place.
The Badgers are always dangerous when you least expect it, especially when they are playing a team that want’s to go up tempo.
The Ohio State Buckeyes will be without standout star Jarred Sullinger for the 2012-13 season, but that hasn’t prevented them from coming into the year with a lot of promise and potential. The team has been ranked the fourth-best team in the country by both the AP and USA Today Polls.
The Buckeyes snatched victory from the jaws of defeat last week against Purdue. With QB Braxton Miller out of the game with a head injury they were able to get the touchdown they needed to force overtime and then win it with another TD.
The Ohio State Buckeyes were considered a top three or four team by almost everyone heading into the season. Through the year the team had some rough stretches and there were quite a few questions about the team’s toughness and chemistry, but they put it together at the right time.
The Ohio State Buckeyes played a very interesting game to make it to the East Regional final.
#2 Ohio State Buckeyes (30-7) vs #1 Syracuse Orange (34-2)
Saturday March 24
East Region – Boston, MA
7:05PM
Moneyline: Ohio State -150, Syracuse +140
Spread: Ohio State -3
O/U: 136
Ohio State
Against Cincinnati they looked pretty good early, horrible in the middle then finished strong.
Strong enough that they are now the favourites against the region’s #1 seed.
I find this result interesting. Does it mean that Cincinnati is very good because that is not what I saw Thursday night.
Should be a very competitive game.
Against Cincinnati it felt like the Buckeyes were always controlling the action. I didn’t realize it at the time but they scored 14 more points at the foul line.
Aaron Craft was super disruptive on the perimeter both on his man and others. The Bearcats are not blessed with playmakers on the perimeter so I think their defense will be challenged more against Syracuse which can avoid Craft’s presence a little easier.
Jared Sullinger and Deshawn Thomas both played well, when that happens this team gets all the scoring it needs.
Syracuse
It is a #1 vs #2 matchup but can’t remember the last time a #2 seed was the favourite. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Against Wisconsin I thought the Orange played pretty well and lets not forget that Ohio State lost to those same Badgers, on their own homecourt, in a game they needed for the Big 10 regular season championship.
Being a #1 seed doesn’t mean you have to trounce teams.
I have been fading Syracuse a bit this year but I love this team as the underdog.
On Thursday night the Badgers were awesome shooting from deep but the Buckeyes do not present the same challenge.
I am curious to see how the zone affects Jared Sullinger because when you can neutralize him the OSU offense can be pretty ordinary.
I am expecting another good game from Dion Waiters tomorrow. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if they have to put Craft on him to slow him down.
Spread Pick: Syracuse +3
O/U Pick: Over
Score Prediction: Syracuse 72 – Ohio State 70
The Cincinnati Bearcats are on a serious roll right now. No they did not win the Big East Tournament but check this: in their last 11 games they are 9-2 with only 5 points separating them form 11-0; 5 of those wins were against ranked teams with their only losses to tournament teams South Florida and Louisville.
Cincinnati Bearcats vs Ohio State Buckeyes
Thursday March 22
East Region – Boston, MA
9:45PM
Moneyline: No money line currently listed
Spread: Ohio State -8
O/U: 129
Cincinnati
I am not saying the Bearcats are my pick to win it all but they certainly deserve to be here and won’t be intimidated by Ohio State.
Cincinnati is coming off a win against Florida State which is no easy task.
Guard Sean Kilpatrick got his game back scoring a team high 18 points as forward Yancy Gates was neutralized in the post by the Seminoles. The game against FSU was far from pretty but it showed the Bearcats have more than enough grit.
I really like the way they locked in at the foul line making 82% of their shots (they were 64% during the regular season).
Ohio State
I suppose I have to eat some humble pie after Ohio State eliminated my Gonzaga Bulldogs. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
In the first half the Zags were all over the Buckeyes but their staying power wasn’t very strong, surprising because I still think they are the deeper team. Ohio State didn’t dominate but they got the job done.
Fellow Ohio school Cincinnati is in the way but this is a favourable matchup despite the steam behind the Bearcats right now.
I am still looking for the evidence that Jared Sullinger is going to be a good player at the next level.
If that is the case he should be able to have success against Bearcats beast of a power forward Yancy Gates. I think it will be a bit of a stalemate which is fine for the Buckeyes who are superior at all the other spots.
They will probably win going away this time. Next us Wisconsin? Maybe.
Spread Pick: Ohio State -8
O/U Pick: Over
Score Prediction: Ohio State 72 – Cincinnati 62
If you read my regional preview than you already know that I am thrilled with how Gonzaga looked on Thursday night in clobbering West Virginia.
The two most balanced teams in the Big Ten will meet for the Big Ten Conference Tournament title tomorrow afternoon in Indianapolis.
This matchup will determine the second finalist in the Big Ten Conference Tournament. Michigan pulled off a pretty miraculous comeback to get to this point.
Ohio State picked up a big road win in East Lansing last weekend to earn a share of the Big Ten regular season title.