Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Ohio State Buckeyes Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Ohio State vs Minnesota NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Minneapolis.

Ohio State vs Minnesota Prediction

Betting on today's Buckeyes and Golden Gophers game? Catch the action at Williams Arena in Minneapolis, MN, as the Golden Gophers hosts this showdown at 9:00 ET on FS1. Ohio State is favored by -5.5 in this Big Ten conference matchup the against Minnesota. The over/under for the game is set at 137.5 points.

Ohio State vs. Minnesota Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Ohio State Buckeyes at Minnesota Golden Gophers
Where: Minneapolis at Williams Arena
Date: Monday, January 6th
Betting Odds OHIOST -5.5, OHIOST -208 | MINNST +170 O/U 137.5

Buckeyes Preview: Do the Buckeyes Have a Shot at a Road Win?

Ohio State dropped to 9-5 on the season after a 69-62 home loss to Michigan State on Friday. The Buckeyes entered the game as -2.5 favorites but failed to cover the spread.

After trailing 37-29 at halftime, Ohio State outscored Michigan State 33-32 in the second half. The total points for the game were 131, falling short of the 149.5 O/U line.

Buckeyes Offense Breakdown

Ohio State struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 36.7% from the field and 25.9% from three-point range, finishing with 62 points. Their effective field goal percentage was 43.3%, and they managed 15 offensive rebounds, but only recorded 9 assists as a team.

Szymon Zapala was a bright spot, hitting 7 of 8 shots and finishing with 15 points in 23 minutes. Jaden Akins added 14 points, while Micah Parrish contributed 13 points, hitting 3 of 6 from beyond the arc.

Buckeyes Team Defense

Ohio State's defense held their opponent to 69 points on 36% shooting from the field, including 45% from two-point range. They also limited three-point damage, with the opposing team hitting just 7 of 27 attempts, or 25%.

From the free-throw line, Ohio State sent their opponent to the stripe 16 times, where they converted 11 shots, or 68%. The Buckeyes gave up 15 offensive rebounds in the game.

Golden Gophers Preview: Can Minnesota Pull Off a Home Win?

Minnesota’s season record fell to 8-6 after an 81-61 home loss to Purdue on Thursday. Entering the game as +5.5 point underdogs, the Gophers not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 142, surpassing the pre-game over/under line of 135.5.

After trailing just 28-27 at halftime, Minnesota’s defense faltered in the second half, allowing 53 points while scoring only 34 themselves.

Golden Gophers Offense Breakdown

In their last game, Minnesota's offense managed 61 points, shooting 48.1% from the field. They were strong inside, hitting 60% of their two-point attempts, but struggled from deep, connecting on just 4 of 17 threes for 23.5%.

At the free-throw line, the Gophers shot only 43.8%, making 7 of 16 attempts. They recorded 9 offensive rebounds and 17 assists, with Fletcher Loyer leading the way, shooting 8 of 10 overall and 4 of 6 from three, finishing with 24 points.

Golden Gophers Team Defense

Despite Minnesota's defensive struggles, they managed to limit their opponent's three-point shooting, holding them to just 4 made threes on 17 attempts, a 23% success rate. However, the Golden Gophers couldn't contain the inside game, allowing 21 two-point field goals on 35 attempts, resulting in a 60% shooting percentage.

The Golden Gophers also sent their opponents to the free-throw line 16 times, where they converted 7 of those attempts for 43%. Minnesota gave up 9 offensive rebounds in the game.

Buckeyes vs Golden Gophers Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Through their last ten road contests, the Buckeyes offense has averaged 71 points per game while allowing an average of 74. Ohio State posted an overall record of 5-5 while going 6-4 ATS.
Through their last five home games, Minnesota has an ATS record of just 1-4. However, their overall record was 1-4 while averaging 64 points per game.
In their last three games as the betting underdog, the Golden Gophers have a straight up record of 0-3 and an ATS mark of 0-3.
In their last five games as the betting favorite, the Buckeyes have a strong straight up record of 3-2. In addition, their ATS record was 3-2 in these scenarios.