Michigan vs Ohio State Picks, Predictions, Odds & How to Watch Big Ten Tournament

• The No. 3-ranked Michigan Wolverines bring a dominant 29-2 record into this high-stakes Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal against the 20-11 Ohio State Buckeyes
• I break down why pairing the Michigan moneyline with the Under creates the most logical Same Game Parlay for this neutral-site clash at the United Center
• Discover why backing Bruce Thornton’s points and rebounds prop offers significant value following his explosive 24-point performance

Jump to: PICKS || ODDS || SPLITS

How to Watch Michigan vs Ohio State

The No. 3-ranked Michigan Wolverines (29-2, 19-1 Big Ten, 15-16 ATS) clash with the Ohio State Buckeyes (21-11, 12-8 Big Ten, 16-15-1 ATS) in a classic rivalry with massive conference tournament implications. Tip-off is scheduled for 12:00 pm ET on Friday, March 13, at the United Center in Chicago, IL, with live television coverage provided by the Big Ten Network.

Michigan enters this neutral-site showdown riding a 15-game conference win streak, securing the Big Ten regular-season title behind the dominant two-way play of Big Ten Player of the Year Yaxel Lendeborg. Meanwhile, Ohio State has strung together four straight victories, including a gritty tournament win over Iowa fueled by their all-time leading scorer, Bruce Thornton.

As a heavy favorite, Michigan looks to sweep the season series 3-0 against their bitter rivals. I will guide you through the sharpest betting angles for this matchup, finding the best available prices across all markets.

Michigan vs Ohio State ATS Pick: Michigan -12.5 (-110 at bet365)

When breaking down the tape and diving into the advanced metrics at KenPom and Haslametrics, the disparity in the season-long resumes is impossible to ignore. Michigan ranks No. 1 in RPI and boasts a staggering .9205 adjusted winning percentage. They have navigated a grueling schedule, going 6-1 against RPI top-25 competition. Ohio State has struggled when stepping up in weight class, logging a dismal 12.5% win rate (1-7) against top-25 teams.

Michigan has won 15 straight conference games, and Lendeborg’s interior presence (14.7 PPG, 7.2 RPG) creates a massive mismatch for Michigan in the offensive paint.

Michigan won its home game against Ohio State by 12 (74-62), failing to cover as 16.5-point chalk, and its road game in Columbus by 21 (82-61), easily covering as 9.5-point favorites. That amounts to an average margin of victory of 16.5 points, and now they get to face the Buckeyes with a massive rest advantage on Friday. The Wolverines have been off since Sunday, while the Buckeyes road their starters hard in Thursday’s 72-69 win over Iowa.

Bruce Thornton (24 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists) played 38 minutes while John Mobley (12 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists) and Amare Bynum (11 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) each played 37. Only six Buckeyes played more than two minutes. The fatigue factor is sure to play an effect as Friday’s game wears on.

Michigan vs Ohio State Game-Total Pick: Under 154.5 (-110 at BetMGM)

For the total, I am locking in the Under. According to BartTorvik, Michigan’s defensive efficiency metrics spike in games played away from Ann Arbor. In high-stakes March matchups, defensive intensity ramps up and possessions slow down. Ohio State’s best chance to compete is to bleed the shot clock and limit transition opportunities.

Neither regular-season matchup came anywhere near 155 points; the teams combined for 136 points in Ann Arbor and 143 in Columbus.

Best Odds for Spread, Moneyline & Total

The UM/OSU spread ranges from Michigan -12.5 to -13.5 with BetMGM offering the best price on the Buckeyes, and bet365 on the Wolverines. The best Michigan moneyline is -847 at FanDuel. The best Ohio State moneyline is +675 at BetMGM.

The game total ranges from 153.5 to 154.5. FanDuel has the best over price and bet365 has the best under price.

Odds as of March 13. Find the best sports betting apps for college basketball.

UM vs OSU Betting Splits for March 13

Analyzing the college basketball public betting splits provides crucial insight into market sentiment, though I never base my final wagers solely on these figures.

The Wolverines are getting 90% of early moneyline handle and 98% of tickets but early ATS action is all over the underdog Buckeyes: 78% of handle on 76% of bets.

The game-total splits lean over so far; 68% of money and wagers are on the over.

Sign Up for SBD’s Newsletter Now

Did you want the latest sports betting news, analysis, picks, betting trends, and relevant data straight to your inbox? If so, you’ll want to subscribe to SBD’s newsletter now!