Ohio State vs Maryland Odds Open With Terrapins as 2.5-Point Home Favorites

• Maryland won both meetings last season by double-digit margins
• Both teams have fallen back to Earth with recent losses
• The Terrapins have won 10-straight at home dating back to last season

Ohio State (11-3, 1-1 away) and Maryland (12-2, 9-0 home) will square off at the Xfinity Center in College Park, MD, on Tuesday (Jan. 7th, 7:00 PM ET).

The two powerhouse programs both got off to fiery starts this year, but are beginning to see some cracks in the foundation.

The Buckeyes have lost three of five, while the Terrapins have lost two of four. Their matchup on Tuesday is a chance to prevent things from going off the rails and preserve their prominent places in the 2020 NCAA Tournament odds as the midpoint of the season approaches.

The point spread opened at Maryland -2.5 with the total at 134.5.

Odds taken Jan. 6

Recent Recession

The Buckeyes looked (and were) unbeatable through the first month of the season. When they lost at unranked Minnesota, it felt like a blip on the radar, especially when they followed it up with a 71-65 neutral-site win over Kentucky two games later.

But they have since lost two more in succession to West Virginia (on a neutral court in Cleveland) and Wisconsin (at home).

Start your Saturday right‼️

Top Plays from last night's B1G road win at #5 Ohio State#OnWisconsin » #Badgers pic.twitter.com/mK3Sso02fg

— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) January 4, 2020

That’s … not good. Especially since Ohio State failed to reach the 60-point mark in its past two games for the first times this season.

Maryland was also untouchable in the first month before dropping a pair of road games against Penn State and Seton Hall.

🎥 from @FS1
🎙 Gus & Jim#HALLin | @BIGEASTMBB pic.twitter.com/peTJ1eLLFN

— Seton Hall Men's Basketball (@SetonHallMBB) December 20, 2019

All things considered, though, all five losses between these two teams have been against top-40 teams as rated by KenPom.

While We’re Young

Ohio State junior forward Kyle Young has been missing from the Buckeyes’ lineup in recent games due to an appendectomy. As of Monday, he was still considered “day-to-day,” so his status for Tuesday’s game is very much up in the air.

Chris Holtmann says on his radio show that Kyle Young is still day-to-day after having his appendix removed last week. Says surgery went well, but timetable for return isn't clear.

— Bill Landis (@BillLandis25) January 6, 2020

Young, who has started all 13 games he’s played this year, has produced 8.3 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game for the Buckeyes. It’s probably best to assume he sits this one out.

ATS Analysis

Ohio State is 10-4 against the spread this year, including one straight-up win in its only test as an underdog. That was back on Dec. 4 at North Carolina, when the Buckeyes were three-point underdogs and came away with a resounding 74-49 win.

𝘼 𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙘 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙡 𝙃𝙞𝙡𝙡

Our journey continues Saturday at The Schott #Team121 pic.twitter.com/k1P8tXpOvv

— Ohio State Hoops 🌰 (@OhioStateHoops) December 6, 2019

Ohio State’s three losses are also one of each kind: one on the road, one at a neutral site, and one at home.

Maryland is only 6-8 ATS, losing four of its past five. The Terrapins are also 3-4 as single-digit favorites, which most recently includes a big win over Indiana (75-59).

ROLLED them 👊

Dub 1⃣2⃣ 🎥🐢 pic.twitter.com/20LBf3HBg4

— Maryland Men’s Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) January 5, 2020

Decision Time

With a small spread, I’m choosing to (mostly) disregard these teams’ ATS records and focus on Maryland’s dominance inside its home arena.

Tuesday’s game is going to be a whiteout, with prominent alumnus Scott Van Pelt in attendance, and the crowd energy is sure to have the place rocking.

Our motto: Do as @notthefakeSVP does…

Tomorrow he’s:
▫️ Coming to XFINITY Center
▫️ Wearing WHITE#FearTheTurtle pic.twitter.com/GHoW6e8URj

— Maryland Men’s Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) January 6, 2020

My pick is on the Terrapins to keep rolling at home, picking up an 11th win in a row against a reeling Buckeyes team that will still be without one of its starting forwards.

Pick: Maryland -2.5 (-110)