Ohio State Buckeyes at Florida State Seminoles NCAA Basketball Predictions

Ohio State Buckeyes at Florida State Seminoles
Tuesday, 11/30/10, 7:30 PM EDT, TV: ESPN
Opening Point Spread: Ohio State -3.5
Current Betting Line: Ohio State -4.5
Opening Total: 133
Current Total: 132.5

Ohio State visits the Sunshine State for a second time this season after picking up a dominating 93-75 win over then No. 9 Florida on November 16. The Buckeyes shot a season-high 62.9 percent from the floor in that contest and freshman Jared Sullinger led the attack from inside with 26 points. The team has managed to shoot 49.7 percent in the last three games, but the defense has been even better in allowing opponents to average just 43.7 points over that span. After five games, Ohio State has five players, including four starters, averaging double-figures offensively. Senior David Lighty leads the squad with a 15.6 scoring average. The team is 2-2 ATS on the season and the NCAA basketball lines page has them listed as a slight road favorite.

The Buckeyes will be participating in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge for the ninth-consecutive year and has a 3-5 record in the event. Ohio State also carries a perfect 4-0 all-time mark against Florida State into this contest, including a 77-64 victory in Columbus last year. Head coach Thad Matta has compiled an 82-17 non-conference mark while at the school, with an overall record of 161-54. “When teams plan for us, they don’t really know where to start,” said Lighty. “We have so many weapons and have the ability to score points both inside and outside. We can do a little bit of everything.”

Florida State is coming off a difficult 55-51 loss to the Florida Gators in Tallahassee, a game that the team shot just 33.3 percent from the floor. “We missed out on a very good opportunity tonight and it’s back to the drawing board,” said coach Leonard Hamilton. The Seminoles have an opportunity to bounce back tonight knowing that the program has defeated 12 nationally ranked teams at home under Hamilton. It’s also important to point out that the ACC has won 10 of the first 11 challenge events, with its only loss coming last year by a 6-5 margin. Florida State enters with a perfect 5-0 record in challenge games at home. The team is 6-6 ATS as a home underdog of 3.5 to 6 points.

The Seminoles enter tonight’s game against the Buckeyes with a 5-1 overall record, winning their first five games of the season. Florida State’s success begins and ends with its defensive intensity, ranking first in the ACC with a 33.3 field goal percentage defense. The unit has held each of its first six opponents of the 2010-11 season under 39 percent shooting from the field. Offensively, the Seminoles are led by All-American candidate Chris Singleton, who leads the team with a career-high 15.8 points per game average. He is nearly averaging a double-double early in the season, grabbing 9.8 rebounds a game.