Ohio State Buckeyes vs Michigan Wolverines Picks and Predictions February 8th 2026

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Michigan Wolverines vs Ohio State Buckeyes Picks and Predictions – Sunday February 8, 2026

Michigan heads to Columbus on Sunday with the kind of profile that usually forces the market to overcorrect. The Wolverines are 21-1, a perfect 9-0 on the road, and they’re coming off a 110-point statement against Penn State. When a team is scoring like that and traveling well, books don’t leave many “cheap” numbers.

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Ohio State is not a soft landing spot, though. The Buckeyes are 15-7 and 11-3 at Value City Arena, and they just handled Maryland 82-62 with balanced scoring. This is a Big Ten game with real stakes and a real atmosphere at 1:00 PM ET on CBS, and the market is still asking Michigan to win by margin.

Michigan Wolverines vs Ohio State Buckeyes Odds

These are the current betting lines, and bettors should continue tracking movement on the latest college basketball odds as tip approaches.

TeamMoneylineSpreadTotal
Michigan Wolverines-425-9.5 (-112)159.5
Ohio State Buckeyes+312+9.5 (-112)159.5

Michigan Wolverines Betting Form

Michigan is priced like an elite offense because it’s playing like one. They’re averaging 91.4 points per game and shooting 51.6% from the field, which is a brutal combo for opponents because it isn’t only about making threes. They get efficient looks, they convert at a high rate, and they can still run teams out when the game opens up.

The Penn State game is the best snapshot of what makes them hard to handicap. When Nimari Burnett is scoring efficiently and the supporting pieces are finishing plays, it doesn’t matter if you “defend well” for 25 seconds. One breakdown becomes two points, and then the pressure compounds. That’s also why Michigan covers spreads: the offense creates separation without needing a perfect defensive game.

If you want a deeper view of how they’ve been cashing game-to-game, the Michigan Wolverines stats and results page is the place to start. From a betting angle, the only real question is whether this matchup forces Michigan into more midrange and late-clock possessions than they want.

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Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Form

Ohio State’s case starts with home form and shot-making. The Buckeyes are 11-3 in Columbus and they shoot 49.4% from the field, which is strong enough to avoid the “can’t score for five minutes” stretches that kill underdogs against elite offenses. Against Maryland, they got production across the lineup and didn’t need one guy to play hero ball.

The problem is the number. +9.5 means Ohio State has to either keep the game in the half court for long stretches or win the turnover and rebound battle convincingly. If Michigan gets extra possessions through offensive boards or live-ball turnovers, the math gets ugly fast, because Michigan doesn’t waste many trips.

If you’re tracking their rhythm and results, check the Ohio State Buckeyes schedule and stats. Betting-wise, Ohio State can hang for a while, but to actually threaten the cover, they need to be efficient early and avoid letting Michigan build a cushion that forces late-game fouling.

Michigan Wolverines vs Ohio State Buckeyes Matchup Breakdown

This game is about possession quality more than pace. Michigan can play fast if it’s there, but they’re also comfortable carving you up in the half court because they finish efficiently. Ohio State’s defense has to stay connected to shooters while still protecting the paint, and that’s a hard balance against a team that’s hitting over 51% from the field as a season profile.

On offense, Ohio State has to win the shot profile battle. Trading contested twos for Michigan’s clean looks is a losing script, especially when the spread is this big. The Buckeyes need clean threes, paint touches that lead to free throws, and second-chance points to keep up with Michigan’s baseline efficiency. If they’re settling early and letting Michigan rebound and run, it won’t stay close.

Turnovers are the swing point for both the side and the total. A normal turnover game favors Michigan because they’re the better team and they score more efficiently. If Ohio State can force a few extra empty trips and turn them into transition points, that’s how you keep this inside single digits. If not, Michigan’s ability to string together scoring possessions is how favorites cover even in hostile buildings.

The total is high at 159.5, but it’s not random. Both teams can score, and Michigan’s efficiency keeps the scoreboard moving even without a track meet. The risk to the over is Ohio State trying to grind the game down and playing longer possessions, but Michigan doesn’t need pace to get to points.

Michigan Wolverines vs Ohio State Buckeyes Predictions and Best Bets

I’m laying the points with Michigan. A 9-0 road record matters, and it’s not just about winning. It’s about showing they can travel with their offense intact. Ohio State can absolutely make this uncomfortable, but the spread is basically asking if Michigan can create separation with sustained efficiency, and that’s the one thing they’ve done all year.

The total is the secondary angle I like, and it pairs with a Michigan cover script. If Michigan is scoring at its typical efficiency, Ohio State is going to be forced into a more aggressive offensive posture, which increases three-point volume and end-game possessions. That’s where high totals get there even if the first 10 minutes look a little slow.

If you’re choosing one play, the cleaner edge is Michigan’s offense against a number that still assumes a normal Big Ten scoring environment. Michigan isn’t playing in that environment right now.

Best Bet: Michigan Wolverines -9.5

NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats

For the rest of the Sunday slate, the college basketball picks page is the quickest way to compare sides and totals across conferences, and the NCAAB previews hub is useful when you want matchup logic instead of just raw trend chasing. If you’re bouncing between teams quickly, the NCAAB teams hub helps with fast context.

If you care about who’s actually delivering profitable reads, the best handicappers section is where I’d start, and the handicappers leaderboard makes it easier to spot consistent performers without guessing. If you want plays packaged and organized, you can explore options to buy picks and keep your card tight.

For process, the Expert Betting Guide is a solid refresher on line value and bankroll discipline. And if you’re comparing where to shop and who to trust, the sportsbook reviews and handicappers sites reviews pages are useful references. For broader betting angles and daily reads beyond one matchup, the main ScoresAndStats blog stays in rotation.

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