Ohio vs. Ball State MAC Tournament Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, March 9, 2023

The No. 5 seed Ohio Bobcats (18-13, 10-8 MAC) play the No. 4 seed Ball State Cardinals (20-11, 11-7 MAC) as 1-point favorites in the MAC Tournament Thursday at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, tipping off at 1:30 PM on ESPN+. Both teams will look to take one step closer to earning an automatic place in the NCAA Tournament bracket. The matchup has an over/under of 151.5.

Ohio vs. Ball State Odds

• Ohio odds to win: -113
• Ball State odds to win: -107
• Spread: Ohio (-1)
• Total: 151.5

Ohio vs. Ball State Promo Codes

Game Time and Information

• Date: Thursday, March 9, 2023
• Time: 1:30 PM ET
• TV: ESPN+
• Where: Cleveland, Ohio
• Venue: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse

Who Will Win Ohio vs. Ball State?

Ohio and Ball State Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

Ohio is 11-8 against the spread when favored by 1 point or more this season.

Ball State has a 5-5 record against the spread in games it was an underdog by 1 point or more this season.

Between them, these two teams average 3.7 more points per game (155.2) than this game’s total (151.5).

Opponents of the two teams average a combined 7.6 fewer points per game (143.9) than this matchup’s over/under of 151.5 points.

The average over/under Ohio has had set in games this season is 151.5, the same as this outing’s point total.

The average total for Cardinals games this season is 3.9 fewer points than the point total of 151.5 for this outing.

So far this season, the Bobcats have put together an 18-12-0 record against the spread.

So far this year, the Cardinals have compiled a 15-14-0 record against the spread.

Ohio Stats & Insights

Ohio averages 78.6 points per game (34th in college basketball) while giving up 72.9 per contest (265th in college basketball). It has a +176 scoring differential overall and outscores opponents by 5.7 points per game.

The 34 rebounds per game Ohio averages rank 55th in the country, and are 2.9 more than the 31.1 its opponents pull down per contest.

The Bobcats knock down 8.8 three-pointers per game (43rd in college basketball), 1.0 more than their opponents (7.8).

Ohio’s 99.6 points per 100 possessions on offense rank 44th in college basketball, and the 92.5 points it allows per 100 possessions rank 211th in college basketball.

In home games, the Bobcats are scoring 7.7 more points per game (83.5) than they are in road games (75.8).

Ball State Stats & Insights

Ball State outscores opponents by 5.6 points per game (posting 76.6 points per game, 63rd in college basketball, and allowing 71 per outing, 203rd in college basketball) and has a +173 scoring differential.

Ball State wins the rebound battle by an average of 3.3 boards. It pulls down 32.8 rebounds per game (112th in college basketball) compared to its opponents’ 29.5.

Ball State makes 7.5 three-pointers per game (173rd in college basketball) compared to its opponents’ 7.3. It shoots 37.2% from deep, and its opponents shoot 38%.

Ball State ranks 38th in college basketball averaging 99.9 points per 100 possessions on offense, and defensively is 217th, allowing 92.6 points per 100 possessions.

At home, the Cardinals average 80.4 points per game. On the road, they average 73.9.

Ohio Key Players to Watch

The Bobcats leader in points and rebounds is Dwight Wilson, who scores 15.9 points and pulls down 9.1 rebounds per game.

Jaylin Hunter leads Ohio in assists, averaging 4.3 per game while also scoring 12.7 points per contest.

The Bobcats get the most three-point shooting production out of Hunter, who makes 2.1 threes per game.

Hunter and AJ Clayton lead Ohio on the defensive end, with Hunter leading the team in steals averaging 1.7 per game and Clayton in blocks averaging 0.6 per contest.

Ball State Key Players to Watch

Jarron Coleman racks up 14.5 points and tacks on 3.8 assists per game, putting him at the top of the Cardinals’ leaderboards in those statistics.

Payton Sparks is at the top of the Ball State rebounding leaderboard with 8.7 rebounds per game. He also notches 13 points and tacks on two assists per game.

Coleman is consistent from three-point range and leads the Cardinals with 2.3 made threes per game.

Ball State’s leader in steals is Coleman (1.4 per game), and its leader in blocks is Demarius Jacobs (1.2 per game).

Ohio vs. Ball State Prediction

• Pick ATS:

  Ohio (-1)
  

• Pick OU:

  Under (151.5)
  

• Prediction:
  Ohio 76, Ball State 74

How to Bet on Ohio vs. Ball State

And for more CBB game previews, NCAA basketball picks or even how to bet on college basketball check out the latest NCAAB lines on Betsperts.