The state of Michigan and Ohio did not meet on the soccer field in 2020 as the Wolverines struggled through COVID-19 issues, but the opponents’ lone scheduled basketball meeting on Sunday on CBS will compensate for the canceled roster clash. The no. 3 Wolverines and no. 4 Buckeyes are both in the mix for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and were especially hot late.
Michigan (15-1, 10-1 Big Ten) has won a total of four consecutive games, including two consecutive since returning last Sunday from a 23-day hiatus between games. However, Ohio State (18-4, 12-4) has won seven in a row and can still compete for the league title with a win over the Wolverines. This will be the 16th time these teams meet when both are in the rankings, but this is their best combination ever for a match in the series.
Unlike in football, a regular season cannot make or break a basketball season, and both of these teams are heading to major NCAA tournaments no matter what happens Sunday. But this top-five clash between rivals could give a glimpse of who is more likely to tackle a deep post-season, and it should be one of the best matches this season in the ultra-competitive Big Ten.
View information
- When: Saturday, 13:00 ET
- Where: Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio
- TV: CBS | Live stream: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (free)
- OTT: CBS Sports App (Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast)
Stories
Michigan: Michigan limits opponents to 32% three-point shooting in Big Ten games, which is the second-best point in the conference. The Wolverines’ 39.2% starting point in league games is second place in the conference. In short, the Wolverines win the battle from outside the arc. But they are also deadly in prospect, with 7-1 center Hunter Dickinson making a run for being the league’s first-year student of the year and being the team’s leading scorer at 14.6 points per game. But he has a lot of help with Isaiah Livers and Franz Wagner, who are versatile forwards with good size and the ability to count from multiple places.
Ohio State: EJ Liddell was recently a monster with an average of 18.1 points per game during the Buckeyes’ seven-game winning streak. The 6-7 second forward is a bit undersized, but is still a solid shot blocker and is one of the most improved players in the country. While his indoor play is a big part of the team’s recent success, the Buckeyes also finished second in the 3-point per game at 8.6 during the league game. In short, it’s an elite attacking team. If there is a question to the state of Ohio to address its domestic defense. No one higher than 6-8 is part of the regular rotation, and that could mean Dickinson’s defense could be a challenge.
Game prediction, select
Last chance:
Ohio Buckeyes +1.5
The Buckeyes are the real deal, but Michigan is the best team they have played this season. The Wolverines have not missed a single shot since their long dismissal and have the length and athleticism to be the first team since Purdue on Jan. 19 to keep the state of Ohio below 70 points. Forecast: Michigan 75, Ohio State 68 (MICH +1.5)
So who wins every college basketball game today? And what underdogs get beautiful upset? Visit SportsLine now to choose for each match, everything from the unbiased model that simulates 10,000 matches each match, and find out.