There are a pair of Big Ten games this afternoon on BTN, with Ohio State and UCLA to host mid-majors just two days before Christmas. Let’s take a look at the upcoming action.
Grambling State at Ohio State Buckeyes
- Time/TV: 2:00 PM ET BTN
- Line: Ohio State -27.5
Ohio State wraps up their non-conference slate today against Grambling State. The Buckeyes have split their last six games, most recently losing to North Carolina by a point. At 8-3 (1-1) and with a relatively soft open to conference play in January, Ohio State could make a bit of a run over the next month. Today’s opponent is
a 5-6 SWAC foe in Grambling State, with the Tigers ending a five game skid with wins over Norfolk State and Hampton. Grambling is committing 15 turnovers per game. The Buckeyes are still averaging shooting just over 50% from the field, with guard Bruce Thornton leading the team with 21.3 points per game. Ohio State’s offense has been rolling and against a turnover prone Tigers program they should be fine today as long as they’re not phoning it in today with Christmas on the horizon.
Pick: Ohio State
UC Riverside at UCLA Bruins
- Time/TV: 4:00 PM ET BTN
- Line: UCLA -26.5
UCLA will try to pick up their tenth win today in their last game of the non-conference schedule. The Bruins have gone 4-1 over their past five games, with the lone loss being a 10 point defeat against Gonzaga. The Bruins are also 2-0 in conference play, but with four of their first five conference games in January coming on the road, with a home game against Purdue immediately following, things are about to ramp up in a hurry.
Today’s opponent is a 6-7 UC Riverside, ranked 254th per KenPom. Last time out the Highlanders lost by 14 to St. Thomas Minnesota. Riverside’s only D1 win this month was a 88-84 win over Cal Poly. The Bruins are averaging 80.4 points per game and shooting 48.8% from the field, led by Tyler Bilodeau’s 17.5 points per game.
Look for UCLA to wrap up December with another win today.
Pick: UCLA
