Penn State vs Ohio State Expert NCAA Basketball Picks 12/7/2019

Game: Penn State Nittany Lions vs Ohio State Buckeyes

Date: Saturday, December 7, 2019

Location: Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus, OH

TV: BTN

Odds/Point Spread: Ohio State -8.5

Total/Over-Under: 130

The Penn State Nittany Lions head to Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday, December 7, 2019. The opening line for this game has Ohio State as 8.5 point favorites.

Penn State heads into this matchup with a mark of 7-1. They currently have a point differential of 18.9 as they are averaging 80.6 points per contest while giving up 61.8 per game. Ohio State has an overall record of 8-0. They are averaging 77.8 points per game and surrendering 52.3, good for a point differential of 25.5.

Valuable Penn State Nittany Lions Betting Trends

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 6-2-0 against the spread this season

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 4-4-0 against the over/under this year

Important Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Trends

The Ohio State Buckeyes are 7-1-0 against the spread this season

The Ohio State Buckeyes are 2-6-0 against the over/under this year

Key Penn State Nittany Lions Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Ohio State Buckeyes Injuries

11/08/19 F Andre Wesson Eye is out indefinitely
11/05/19 G Musa Jallow Ankle is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Lamar Stevens comes into this game averaging 17.5 points per contest while playing 29.4 minutes per night this year. He grabs 7.9 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.0 assists per game. His FG percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage is 71%. Myreon Jones averages 13.6 points per contest in 30.6 minutes per game. He averages 3.4 assists per game and 3.1 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 45% for the season while his free throw percentage is 85%.

Player Spotlight

Kaleb Wesson scores 12.4 points per contest while playing 25.3 minutes per game. He hauls in 9.1 rebounds per contest and has 2.0 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is at 79%. Duane Washington Jr. averages 11.1 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 22.0 minutes per game. He also brings in 3.0 rebounds per game and has 2.0 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is 70%.

Useful Team Statistics

Penn State averages 80.6 points per contest, which is 36th in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 18.9 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 128th. From 3-point territory they shoot 31%, which is good for 245th in the nation. They average 43.8 boards per contest and 16.1 assists per game, which ranks them 5th and 53rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 182nd with 13.6 per game. The Nittany Lions allow 61.8 points per contest, which is 49th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 38% shooting percentage and a 31% average from 3-point range, ranking them 38th and 111th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 34.3 rebounds a game which ranks 134th, and they allow 11.4 assists per game which puts them in 107th place in the country. They force 16.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 300th in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

Ohio State is 78th in the nation with 77.8 points per contest this season. They are 36th in the country in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 25.5. They shoot 40% from beyond the arc, which is good for 23rd in the NCAA. They are 17th in D-1 in rebounding with 42.4 boards per contest and 67th in assists per game with 15.6. The Buckeyes are 266th in turnovers per contest with 12.4. The Buckeyes give up 52.3 points per game, which ranks them 4th in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 32% shooting percentage and a 28% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 2nd and 54th in those defensive statistics. They rank 12th with 8.6 dimes allowed per game and 86th with 32.9 boards surrendered per contest. The Buckeyes are 158th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 14.0 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Nittany Lions are 64th in the nation in offensive rating with 108. In terms of pace they are 42nd in the country with 74.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 136th. As a team they are 147th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shots, ranking 101st in Division 1. Penn State is 266th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.5 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Ohio State is 247th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.8 times per 100 possessions. The Buckeyes are 10th in the country in offensive rating with 116.3. In terms of pace they are 308th in Division 1 with 66.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 56% is 25th. As a team they are 21st in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shots, ranking 106th in the nation.

Who will win tonight's Penn State/Ohio State college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Penn State +8.5

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