The Indiana Hoosiers take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus, OH. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET on FOX.
Ohio State is favored by 7 points on the spread with a moneyline of -310. The total is set at 148 points.
Here are my Indiana vs. Ohio State predictions and college basketball picks for January 17, 2025.
Indiana vs Ohio State Prediction
My Pick: Over 148.5 (Play to 150)
My Indiana vs Ohio State best bet is on the over, with the best odds currently available at DraftKings. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Indiana vs Ohio State Odds, Spread
| Indiana Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7 -105 | 148 -110 / -110 | +250 |
| Ohio State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7 -115 | 148 -110 / -110 | -310 |
- Indiana vs Ohio State spread: Ohio State -7
- Indiana vs Ohio State over/under: 148 points
- Indiana vs Ohio State moneyline: Ohio State -310, Indiana +250
- Indiana vs Ohio State best bet: Over 148.5 (Play to 150)
My Indiana vs Ohio State College Basketball Betting Preview
Does Indiana have any fight left?
The Hoosiers seemed to be trending well, winning five straight games and looking significantly smoother on offense while Malik Reneau rehabbed an injury.
But then the last week happened.
The Hoosiers got shelled in two straight games by 25 points each, looking utterly lifeless while Iowa and Illinois clowned them.
That adds up to a more concerning trend for Indiana: against KenPom top 45 teams, the Hoosiers are 0-5 straight up and against the spread with an average losing margin of 22.2 points (credit to my friend Pat Taylor for that nugget). They appear fully incapable of stepping up in class.
This is bad news for the Hoosiers because Ohio State is comfortably in the top 45. Indiana must look inward: Will the Hoosiers pack it in as the hot seat buzz swells around Mike Woodson, or will they really sit with their backs against the wall?
Reneau is expected to remain out, so the Hoosiers’ one-big lineup with Oumar Ballo as the 7-foot-0, 265-pound centerpiece should remain in use.
With Mackenzie Mgbako at the 4 instead of the 3, Indiana has far more space to operate. That's helped Myles Rice thrive at point guard, and sniper Luke Goode has gotten more opportunities to fire away with foes focused elsewhere.
Ballo, too, has thrived, though his scoring has dipped in the last two games as Indiana’s overall offense has tanked. He remains a monster in the paint, though, finishing well and dominating the glass on both ends of the court.
Defensive effort is the glaring issue to watch, however. Woodson benched Mgbako against Illinois as he got roasted on that end, and the team as a collective has to communicate far better and play as a unit.
In contrast to Indiana’s last two lifeless performances, Ohio State showed outstanding fight on the road in Madison this week. The Buckeyes trailed the Badgers by 17 at halftime, but they battled back to nearly tie the game in the final minute.
Ohio State is right near the cutline in bracket projections with two months remaining until Selection Sunday, and the Buckeyes have the grit to find their way into the tournament.
The Buckeyes go as Bruce Thornton goes, their sturdy junior point guard with outstanding feel as a creator. He's among the most efficient players in the country with a 66.4% true shooting percentage, but it’s his passing without much risk of miscues.
He’s something of a Braden Smith Lite in his ability to probe in ball screens or pull up off the bounce.
His strong performances have allowed Ohio State to chug along without Meechie Johnson Jr. (personal). Yes, Ohio State has only gone 4-3 in that span, but a blowout victory over Kentucky proved that this version of the Buckeyes can still be a threat.
John Mobley Jr. and Micah Parrish have also picked up the slack. Mobley, a rookie assassin from deep, and Parrish, an athletic fifth-year wing who's played in the national title game with San Diego State, offer complementary skill sets to each other.
Parrish’s defensive fortitude also allows Ohio State to play small at times.
Of course, that means taking Devin Royal off the floor, a hyper-productive sophomore forward who lives at the free throw line.
The rest of the Buckeyes' frontcourt – Aaron Bradshaw, Sean Stewart, Evan Mahaffey – is more defensive-focused, helping Ohio State’s 2-point percentage defense rank 48th nationally. That’s a solid mark considering the Buckeyes have played the country’s 14th-most difficult schedule.
Indiana vs. Ohio State Betting Analysis
This handicap is a tough one. In a vacuum with no context, I think a touchdown is too many points for Indiana here, pushing me to bet on the Hoosiers.
The national media spotlight rests squarely on Indiana, and another dud performance on a Friday night – a slate that only has 10 games – would bring forth an onslaught of scathing remarks.
That gives me some hope that Indiana will rally. Heck, Goode even showed some fight on social media this week, getting into it with shock jock Dan Dakich as he called out the Hoosiers’ effort. That could be a sign of a rally coming, but it’s not quite enough for me to risk my money on Indiana.
Instead, I'll back the over. Even Indiana should trend back up after its abysmal 3-point shooting in the last two games (a combined 8-for-34, 23.5%), and Ballo could have his way on the glass with a Buckeye squad that's been poor on the defensive boards in league play.
At the same time, though, Ohio State’s guards could feast against Indiana’s dicey perimeter defense. Goode specifically will be a target, as he'll likely check the southpaw Parrish. And Mgbako better prepare for a long day at the office against the spunky Royal.
If the Hoosier sophomore wing is lackadaisical, Royal will feast inside.
Tempo-wise, Ohio State hasn't played overly quickly in league play, but it ran with Oregon and showed that willingness all throughout the non-conference. Ideally, Indiana can speed the Buckeyes up.
Ultimately, this is a bet on efficiency, as both teams have clear routes to points against the opposition’s defense. I would bet this up to 150.
