As the college basketball season heats up, Ohio State is gearing up to face a Minnesota team that's struggling to find its footing. The Buckeyes, with a 14-6 record and a NET ranking of 37, are favored to win by 7.5 points, according to FanDuel. Ohio State's recent form has been inconsistent, with a win-loss-win record in their last three games, but they're still firmly in the tournament picture. A win against Minnesota would be a Quad 3 victory, which won't significantly impact their tournament resume but would help them maintain their position.
Minnesota, on the other hand, is in dire need of a quality win to bolster their tournament chances. With a NET ranking of 88 and a 2-6 record against Quad 1 opponents, the Golden Gophers are facing an uphill battle to make the NCAA cut. Their current three-game losing streak hasn't helped, and a loss to Ohio State would drop them to 3-7 in the Big Ten. This game is a Quad 1 opportunity for Minnesota, and they'll need to capitalize on it to stay in the tournament conversation.
CHD Scout Prediction
Minnesota
70
Ohio State
78
The CHD Scout prediction has Ohio State winning by 8.6 points, with a 78.4% win probability, which suggests that the Buckeyes should come out on top. With no notable player momentum on either side, this game will likely come down to which team can execute their game plan more effectively. I predict Ohio State will win 78-70, as their superior defense and home-court advantage should be too much for Minnesota to handle. The Buckeyes' ability to limit opponents' scoring will be the key factor in this matchup, and I expect them to shut down the Golden Gophers' offense and secure a comfortable victory.