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Minnesota heads to Columbus for a Big Ten matchup with Ohio State on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 6:30 PM ET at Value City Arena. The game airs on BTN. Ohio State is laying 8.5 at home, with Minnesota coming in as the road dog after a rough start away from home this season.
Ohio State is 12-5 with a 9-3 home record, and the Buckeyes’ offense has been the steady part of their profile lately. Minnesota is 10-8 overall but just 1-5 on the road, and that matters here because the market is asking them to survive long stretches in a loud building without the scoring droughts that tend to show up when they travel.
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Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Ohio State Buckeyes Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor updated college basketball odds before tipoff. You can track movement and shop numbers on the latest college basketball odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Golden Gophers | +310 | +8.5 (-114) | O 144.5 |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | -438 | -8.5 (-109) | U 144.5 |
Colorado Buffaloes
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Kansas Jayhawks
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o+156.50-110
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u+156.50-110
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Utah State Aggies
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UNLV Rebels
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Jan 20, 2026 23:00 EST
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o+157.00-115
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u+157.00-105
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UCLA Bruins
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Purdue Boilermakers
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Jan 20, 2026 22:00 EST
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o+146.50-110
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Minnesota Golden Gophers Betting Form
Minnesota’s biggest strength is that they can generate good looks without playing hero ball. The assist rate you gave, 18.4 per game, shows up on film as real ball movement, not just a stat. When the Gophers are playing their best, they are moving defenses side to side, getting touches into the paint, then kicking out to shooters or hitting cutters. That style is how an underdog hangs around even when the talent gap is real.
The problem is consistency, especially away from home. Minnesota has had trouble stringing together stops and clean offensive possessions on the road, and that’s how games get away. Even when the offense is decent, one bad stretch can turn into a 10-2 run fast in Big Ten play. The Illinois loss is a good example of Minnesota competing while still never quite controlling the game.
If you’re taking +8.5, you’re basically betting Minnesota can keep the turnover count manageable and avoid foul trouble that gifts Ohio State free points. That’s the path to a cover. For team context and recent results in one place, you can track Minnesota stats and results.
| Player | Pos | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Vaihola | F | Out | Knee |
| Chansey Willis Jr. | G | Out | Ankle |
| BJ Omot | F | Out | Leg |
Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Form
Ohio State’s offense is built to punish small mistakes. They don’t need you to implode. If you miss two rotations, they’ll turn it into two clean looks, and suddenly you’re down eight without feeling like the game changed much. They’re scoring 83.3 points per game and shooting efficiently, and at home they tend to play with more pace and confidence because their guards can attack earlier in the clock.
The angle that matters most for betting is rotation stability. Ohio State has been dealing with frontcourt availability issues, and that can impact rebounding, rim protection, and second-chance points. If the Buckeyes are short inside, Minnesota has a better chance to stay within the number because it’s harder to create separation without controlling the paint. Still, even when Ohio State goes smaller, their spacing can stretch opponents into mistakes, and that’s where the cover comes from.
If you like Ohio State -8.5, you’re betting they win the possession battle with turnovers and free throws, then layer on shot-making at home. It’s a very reasonable bet. The question is whether Minnesota’s passing and shot creation are steady enough to keep it from turning into a one-way game.
| Player | Pos | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Noel | F | Out | Foot |
| Josh Ojianwuna | F | Out | Knee |
| Myles Herro | G | Out | Redshirt |
| Christoph Tilly | C | Questionable | Upper body or head, status unclear close to tip |
Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Ohio State Buckeyes Matchup Breakdown
This matchup starts with pace and shot quality. Ohio State is comfortable playing fast enough to leverage their efficiency, while Minnesota would probably prefer a more controlled tempo where their passing can create high-quality possessions and limit live-ball turnovers. If Ohio State gets Minnesota playing hurried, that’s when the Buckeyes’ margin shows up.
The half-court chess match is about where Minnesota can create points. If Minnesota is living on contested jumpers, it’s hard to keep up. If they’re getting paint touches and forcing rotations, they can score without needing a perfect shooting night. Ohio State’s defensive pressure is more about forcing decisions than gambling, so Minnesota’s best possessions will come from quick reads, not over-dribbling.
The total at 144.5 is sitting in a spot where late-game free throws can matter a lot. If the game stays within two possessions late, fouling can push a borderline total over even if the pace is not extreme. If Ohio State builds a double-digit lead and starts trading longer possessions, it leans more under-friendly because the game loses urgency. If you’re thinking about how pace, foul rate, and end-game game script affect totals, the framework in this sports betting strategy guide translates well to college basketball.
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Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Ohio State Buckeyes Predictions and Best Bets
I lean Minnesota +8.5. Not because I trust their road profile, I don’t, but because this number is asking Ohio State to win by multiple possessions against a team that can actually pass and generate decent looks. Minnesota doesn’t need to be great to cover. They just need to avoid the ugly stretches that turn into runaway runs.
Ohio State is still the more likely winner, and I’m not fighting that. The Buckeyes’ offense is simply more reliable, and at home they can stack points without forcing anything. The risk if you take Minnesota is obvious: if they get sped up, turn it over, and start fouling, you’re dead.
On the total, I lean Under 144.5. Minnesota tends to play slower, and if their offense is built around longer possessions and ball movement, that naturally trims the number of total trips. The over path exists if the game stays close late and becomes a free-throw parade, but I’d rather bet the more common script where Ohio State controls the game and Minnesota has a few scoring droughts that keep the total in check.
Best Bet: Minnesota Golden Gophers +8.5 (-114).
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
College basketball is a numbers game across the slate. The edges show up when you’re comparing matchups, pricing, and game scripts, not when you’re forcing a bet because a team “should” win. If you’re betting daily, the easiest way to stay disciplined is to start with today’s college basketball picks and compare how different games are being attacked, side versus total, favorite versus dog, fast pace versus grind.
That process matters even more in conference play, where familiarity shrinks the gap and market numbers get tighter. If you’re consistently weighing possessions, shot profile, turnover pressure, and late-game fouling, you’ll land on better prices over time, and you’ll also know when to pass instead of forcing action into a bad number.
