tevin-brewer-fiu-cbs.jpg
Getty Images

The No. 1 Duke Blue Devils want to stay on top for a while, but the host Ohio State Buckeyes hope to have something to say about that when the teams meet Tuesday night. This 2021 ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchup is the first nonconference road game for Duke (7-0) in almost two years. It comes on the heels of a rousing 84-81 victory against then-No. 1 Gonzaga on Friday. The Buckeyes (4-2) face a third consecutive ranked team, and they split the first two. OSU beat then-No. 21 Seton Hall 79-76 last Monday and lost 71-68 to current No. 14 Florida two days later.

Tipoff is set for 9:30 p.m. ET at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Caesars Sportsbook lists the Blue Devils as the two-point favorites in the latest Duke vs. Ohio State odds, and the over-under for total points scored is 147. Before making any Ohio State vs. Duke picks, check out the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of almost $2,100 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Duke vs. Ohio State in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge 2021. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the college basketball lines and trends for Ohio State vs. Duke:

  • Duke vs. Ohio State spread: Blue Devils -2
  • Duke vs. Ohio State over-under: 147 points
  • Duke vs. Ohio State money line: Duke -135, Ohio State +115
  • Duke: It is 10-13 ATS as a road favorite since 2018.
  • Ohio State: It is 27-25 ATS in home games since 2018.

Why Duke can cover

Duke has beaten Gonzaga and Kentucky this season, and the Buckeyes are short-handed. The Blue Devils are averaging 85.6 points per game (19th in Division I), led by forwards Paolo Banchero (18.3 per game) and Wendell Moore Jr. (17.8). They teamed up for 41 points in the win against Gonzaga, and center Mark Williams chipped in 17 and had nine rebounds. The 7-foot Williams blocks more than three shots per game while averaging 9.9 points and 6.4 rebounds.

Duke is 3-3 against the spread as a road favorite since the start of last season. It faces a Buckeyes team that scores 75.3 points (136th in the nation) while allowing 69.3 (198th). The Blue Devils average 39.4 rebounds per game, almost four more than the Buckeyes, with Moore and Banchero combining for almost 14. Moore also leads the team in assists, getting 5.7 of the Blue Devils' 18.3 per game (T-13 in Division I). Duke also gets 9.6 steals per contest (T-39). 

Why Ohio State can cover

Ohio State is 9-5 ATS against ranked opponents since the start of last season, and it beat Seton Hall last Monday before losing by just three to the Gators on Saturday. The Buckeyes are off to an uneven start while Justice Sueing is out with an abdominal injury, but they are a dangerous opponent. The Buckeyes shoot 47.6 percent from the field (64th in the nation) and 37.3 from 3-point range (75th), while Duke ranks 149th in field-goal percentage defense (41.3).

Forward E.J. Liddell has taken on more of the scoring load and is averaging 22.5 points per game. The 6-foot-7, 240-pound senior is tough inside and also can hit from long range, going 9-for-22 (40.9 percent) from beyond the arc. He blocks 3.8 shots and pulls down 6.2 rebounds per contest. Kyle Young averages 9.6 points and a team-high 6.4 rebounds, and eight Buckeyes score at least five points per game. Justin Ahrens is hitting 48.3 percent from outside (14 of 29).     

How to make Ohio State vs. Duke picks

SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, projecting 150 combined points. It also has generated an against-the-spread pick that cashes in over 50 percent of simulations. You can get the pick only at SportsLine.

So who wins Duke vs. Ohio State? And which side of the spread can you bank on in over 50 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that has returned almost $2,100 on its college basketball picks the last five-plus years, and find out.