OHIO STATE -3
Obviously, teams that are playing their best right now have the greatest chance of advancing in the NCAA tournament. In their last 12 games, Ohio State is 11-1 and playing as well as any team in the country. Now, 11-1 really doesn't mean much until you look at who they have played. During that streak OSU has beaten Michigan State twice, by 8 points and three points, won AT Indiana by 9, beat Wisky by 7, beat Illinois and Iowa State. All pretty darn good teams. When I look at Arizona, they are 7-5 in their last twelve games, but take away the two tournament wins against mighty Belmont and Harvard and they are just 5-5 with loses to UCLA twice, California, Colorado and USC...all good teams, but all loses just the same!
But the real reason I will have my money on Ohio State tonight is all season long they have struggled finding a scoring threat other than Deshaun Thomas. But in their last 10 games or so, Laquinton Ross and Sam Thompson have stepped up to become legitimate scoring threats and it has been reflected in their record as they have won 10 games in a row and won the Big Ten tourney. This has given OSU one of the best, if not THE best, bench in the entire nation! Before, opponents could really focus on stopping Thomas, but now Ohio State has a few other scoring options.
Playing in California will give Arizona a home flavor, no doubt about that, but Ohio State actually plays well on the road (won at Indiana by 9 last week of the season) and they have the experience as they have made the Final Four in each of the last three years. I don't think this game will be that close and I am certainly willing to lay the three points. Take Ohio State -3
Obviously, teams that are playing their best right now have the greatest chance of advancing in the NCAA tournament. In their last 12 games, Ohio State is 11-1 and playing as well as any team in the country. Now, 11-1 really doesn't mean much until you look at who they have played. During that streak OSU has beaten Michigan State twice, by 8 points and three points, won AT Indiana by 9, beat Wisky by 7, beat Illinois and Iowa State. All pretty darn good teams. When I look at Arizona, they are 7-5 in their last twelve games, but take away the two tournament wins against mighty Belmont and Harvard and they are just 5-5 with loses to UCLA twice, California, Colorado and USC...all good teams, but all loses just the same!
But the real reason I will have my money on Ohio State tonight is all season long they have struggled finding a scoring threat other than Deshaun Thomas. But in their last 10 games or so, Laquinton Ross and Sam Thompson have stepped up to become legitimate scoring threats and it has been reflected in their record as they have won 10 games in a row and won the Big Ten tourney. This has given OSU one of the best, if not THE best, bench in the entire nation! Before, opponents could really focus on stopping Thomas, but now Ohio State has a few other scoring options.
Playing in California will give Arizona a home flavor, no doubt about that, but Ohio State actually plays well on the road (won at Indiana by 9 last week of the season) and they have the experience as they have made the Final Four in each of the last three years. I don't think this game will be that close and I am certainly willing to lay the three points. Take Ohio State -3
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