Maryland (22-4) at Ohio State (17-9)
When: Sunday, February 23rd, 2020
Where: Value City Arena,
Columbus, OH
Time: 4:00 ET | TV: CBS
Opening Odds: Ohio State -2.5/130.5
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One of the hottest teams in the country takes to the court on Sunday afternoon as the seventh-ranked Maryland Terrapins visit the Ohio State Buckeyes on CBS. With just five regular season games remaining, the Terrapins own a two-game lead in the Big Ten Conference over Penn State, who will play at Indiana earlier in the day. Maryland has reeled-off nine consecutive victories and four of them have come on the road including impressive wins at Illinois and Michigan State. Ohio State had won five of six and two in a row before dropping a 85-76 decision at Iowa on Thursday and will look to even the season series after the Terrapins won 67-55 on Jan. 7. Maryland is 7-1 ATS in the past eight meetings and are 3-1 SU in the last four visits to Columbus.
The Terrapins haven’t lost since Jan. 14 at Wisconsin and have been led by Jalen Smith and Anthony Cowan Jr. Smith dominated Northwestern in Maryland’s latest win with 22 points and a career-high 19 rebounds, but scored just 11 points in the earlier matchup versus the Buckeyes. Smith leads Maryland and ranks second in the Big Ten in rebounding at 10.5 per game, and is seventh in the conference in scoring at 15.4 points. Cowan finished with 20 points in the previous meeting with Ohio State and leads the team in scoring at 16.7 points and 4.5 assists. Maryland will be at Minnesota on Wednesday.
Ohio State is ranked 16th in 3-point shooting at 37.8 percent entering Saturday but the defense is very solid, ranking 23rd in the nation at 62.3 points allowed per contest. Kaleb Wesson is Ohio State’s leading scorer (13.9) and rebounder (9.3), but was held to 10 points and seven rebounds against Iowa while also battling foul trouble. In the first meeting with Ohio State, Wesson and his brother, Andre, combined for 29 points, 14 rebounds and four steals, but the Buckeyes shot a dreadful 31.7 percent from the field. Forward E.J. Liddell, who averages 6.3 points per game, came off the bench Thursday and scored a season-best 17 points while also grabbing eight rebounds. The Buckeyes will be at Nebraska on Thursday.
It’s hard to take teams on the road in conference play, but this Maryland team has been really good away from home. I expect a back-and-forth contest all day with the Terps pulling it out late.
Pick: Maryland +2.5
Terrapins are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games following a ATS loss.
Terrapins are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games as an underdog.
Terrapins are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games as a road underdog.
Terrapins are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Terrapins are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Terrapins are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 road games.
Terrapins are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Terrapins are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Terrapins are 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 Sunday games.
Buckeyes are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a favorite.
Buckeyes are 13-5 ATS in their last 18 games as a home favorite.
Buckeyes are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
Buckeyes are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 home games.
Buckeyes are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Buckeyes are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up loss.
Buckeyes are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS loss.
Buckeyes are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 Sunday games.
Over is 4-1 in Terrapins last 5 Sunday games.
Under is 7-3 in Terrapins last 10 games as an underdog.
Under is 4-1 in Buckeyes last 5 games as a favorite.
Under is 7-2 in Buckeyes last 9 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 6-2 in Buckeyes last 8 games as a home favorite.
Under is 6-2 in Buckeyes last 8 home games.
Under is 7-3 in Buckeyes last 10 games following a ATS loss.
Over is 30-13-1 in Buckeyes last 44 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 11-5 in Buckeyes last 16 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Favorite is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
Home team is 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
