The Ohio State Buckeyes (15-12) battle against the Michigan State Spartans (17-10) in a fierce Big Ten matchup on Sunday, February 25 at 4:00 PM ET at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan. The Spartans are favorites to find success at home, with a point spread at -9.5 (-110).

The Buckeyes have gone 2-3 in their last five games, but have had a successful week in knocking off the (previously) second-ranked Purdue Boilermakers two games back. After that win, they fell short to the Minnesota Golden Gophers 88-79.

Bruce Thornton will be key to watch here, as he leads them offensively. He is currently averaging 16.4 points, 42.9 percent shooting for the field, and 4.3 assists per game.

The Buckeyes maintain an average of 74.6 points per game, boasting a 44.9 percent field goal accuracy. Their effective teamwork is evident, as seen in their average of 13.7 assists per game. However, they will need to increase their activity to create better scoring opportunities against the Spartans.

On the defensive end, they restrict opponents to 70.4 points, resulting in a slightly positive point differential. While the Boilermakers primarily rely on their potent offense, they also showcase impressive defensive statistics, including 30.6 rebounds, 4.5 blocks, and 5.4 steals per game.

The Spartans have gone 3-2 in their last five games and just recently snapped their three-game winning streak. Their most recent defeat was a 78-71 outing against the Iowa Hawkeyes. 

Tyson Walker is doing a great job at leasing this offense. He is averaging 18.3 points per game, ranking him 70^th in the nation for points per game. He is also shooting 43.9 percent from the field.

The Spartans consistently score an average of 75.0 points per game with a 47.4 percent success rate in field goals. Their ball movement results in 17.0 assists per game, providing a notable advantage over the Buckeyes.

On the defensive end, they limit opponents to an average of 66.2 points per game, demonstrating a respectable point differential compared to their offensive output. Moreover, they grab 34.5 rebounds, block 3.9 shots, and achieve 7.1 steals per game, factors that could greatly impact their overall performance.

MyBookie has set the odds for this college basketball matchup, indicating that the Michigan State Spartans are favored by 9.5 points at home. According to market analysis, there is an 84.4 percent likelihood of their victory in this matchup.

The Buckeyes, despite knocking off the Boilermakers a few games back, are not consistent and will be difficult to wager with. Instead, the Spartans appear to have the better chance at winning.

Final Pick: Michigan State Spartans -9.5 (-110)