Point Spread: Hoosiers Modest Underdog in Tuesday Showdown at Struggling Ohio State

Indiana and Ohio State — along with Michigan — are the three biggest disappointments in the Big Ten this year. The Hoosiers travel to Columbus for a Tuesday showdown with the Buckeyes, and it's OSU with the edge, according to the oddsmakers. Here's the latest line, plus a great history of both teams against the number this season.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Indiana has struggled often this year, and the Hoosier Nation fan base isn't very happy. But it's even worse at Ohio State. 

The Buckeyes are next up for Indiana, with a Tuesday night game set in Columbus. Ohio State has lost seven of its last eight games, and two of its last three at home. Both teams are 13-9, but it's Ohio State that's a game out of last place.

But get this: Oddsmakers favor Ohio State, mostly because Indiana hasn't been very good on the road all year and they looked pathetic and uncaring in an 85-71 loss to Penn State at home on Saturday. According to the SISportsbook.com gambling website, the Buckeyes are a 5.5-point favorite. The over/under is 143.5.

It's a given that both teams are desperate for a win. The Big Ten standings have been flipped on their side this year, with Michigan 14th, Ohio State 13th and Indiana — if you want to take the negative approach — tied for 11th. 

This trio, mind you, has won a combined 57 Big Ten championships, with Indiana earning 22, Ohio State 20 and Michigan 15. The trio of Northwestern, Nebraska and Penn State haven't won any titles in the past 90 years, but they've combined to win 17 league games so far. IU, Ohio State and Michigan have only 10, and that includes Indiana beating both of them, and Michigan beating Ohio State. Against the rest of the league, they are a combined 7-21.

Pathetic, isn't it?

The game starts at 7 p.m. ET and is being streamed only on Peacock. For all of the information on how to watch and a great preview of the game, CLICK HERE

Here's what Indiana has done against the spread so far this season, including beating Ohio State as a slight home underdog on Jan. 6.

Indiana by the numbers

• Indiana overall record: 13-9
• Indiana overall vs. spread: 10-12
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• Indiana home record: 10-3
• Indiana home vs. spread: 7-6
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• Indiana road record: 1-4
• Indiana road vs spread: 2-3
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• Indiana neutral court record: 2-2
• Indiana neutral court vs. spread: 1-3
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• Indiana record as favorite: 10-1
• Indiana vs. spread as favorite: 5-6
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• Indiana record as underdog: 3-8
• Indiana vs. spread as underdog: 5-6
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• Indiana over total: 11
• Indiana under total: 11

For every game, we'll give you a complete rundown on what both teams have done against the spread. We'll have final scores, what they did versus the spread and what happened with the over/under totals.

Indiana results vs. spread this season

Here's what Indiana has done this season, straight up and against the spread:

• Nov. 7 — Beat Florida Gulf Coast 69-63 at home as an 11.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (132) went under the 142.5 over/under total.
• Nov. 12 — Beat Army 72-64 at home as a 25.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (138) went over the 134.5 total.
• Nov. 16 — Beat Wright State 89-80 at home as a 15.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (169) went far over the 146.5 total.
• Nov. 19 — Lost to No. 5 Connecticut 77-57 at Madison Square Garden in New York as a 12.5-point underdog (did not cover). The score (134) went under the 146.5 total.
• Nov. 20 — Beat Louisville 74-66 at Madison Square Garden in New York as an 8.5-point favorite at tipoff (did not cover). The score (140) went under the 146.5 total.
• Nov. 26 — Beat Harvard 89-76 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis as an 7.5-point favorite at tipoff (covered). The score (165) went far over the 140.5 total.
• Dec. 1 — Beat Maryland 65-53 at home as a 3.5-point favorite at tipoff (covered). The score (117) went far under the 136.5 total.
• Dec. 5 — Won at Michigan 78-75 as a 6.5-point underdog at tipoff (covered). The score (153) went over the 144.5 total.
• Dec. 9 — Lost to Auburn 104-76 in Atlanta as a 6.5-point underdog at tipoff (did not cover). The score (180) went far over the 147.5 total.
• Dec. 16 — Lost to No. 2 Kansas 75-71 at home as a 7.5-point underdog at tipoff (covered). The score (146) went under the 147.5 total.
• Dec. 19 — Beat Morehead State 69-68 at home as a 12.5-point favorite at tipoff (did not cover). The score (137) went under the 141.5 total.
• Dec. 21 — Beat North Alabama 83-66 at home as a 13.5-point favorite at tipoff (covered). The score (149) went over the 147.5 total.
• Dec. 29 — Beat Kennesaw State 100-87 at home as a 12.5-point favorite at tipoff (covered). The score (187) went over the 15.5 total.
• Jan. 3 — Lost at Nebraska 86-70 as a 3.5-point underdog at tipoff (did not cover). The score (156) went over the 151.5 total.
• Jan. 6 — Beat Ohio State 71-65 at home as a 1.5-point underdog at tipoff (covered). The score (136) went under the 147.5 total.
• Jan. 9 — Lost at Rutgers 66-57 as a 2.5-point underdog at tipoff (did not cover). The score (123) went under the 140.5 total.
• Jan. 12 — Beat Minnesota 74-62 as a 3.5-point favorite at tipoff (covered). The score (136) went under the 147.5 total.
• Jan. 16 — Lost to No. 2 Purdue 87-66 at home as a 9.5-point underdog at tipoff (did not cover). The score (153) went over the 151.5 total.
• Jan. 19 — Lost at No. 11 Wisconsin 91-79 as an 11.5-point underdog at tipoff (did not cover). The score (180) went over the 141.5 total.
• Jan. 27 — Lost at Illinois 70-62 as a 14.5-point underdog at tipoff (coverede). The score (132) went under the 154.5 total.
• Jan. 30 — Beat Iowa 74-68 as a 1.5-point underdog at tipoff (covered). The score (142) went under the 160.5 total.
• Feb. 3 — Lost to Penn State 85-71 as a 6.5-point favorite at tipoff (did not cover). The score (156) went over the 150.5 total.

Ohio State results vs. spread this season

Ohio State, like Indiana, is 13-9 overall but the Buckeyes are just 3-8 in the Big Ten and have lost seven of their past eight games. They are just 2-7 against the spread since the start of the new year.

The Buckeyes opened the season ranked No. 35 in the Kenpom.com computer rankings, and now they're at No. 64 as of Tuesday morning.

Ohio State is 10-12 vs. the point spread this season. Twelve of its 22 games have gone over the total.

Here's what Ohio State has done this season, straight up and against the spread:

• Nov. 6 — Beat Oakland 79-73 at home as a 19.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (152) went over the 144.5 over/under total.
• Nov. 10— Lost to No. 15 Texas A&M 73-66 at home as a 1.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (139) went under the 139.5 over/under total.
• Nov. 15 — Beat Merrimack 76-52 at home as a 23.5-point favorite (covered). The score (128) went under the 132.5 over/under total.
• Nov. 19— Beat Western Michigan 73-56 at home as a 21.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (133) went under the 140.5 over/under total.
• Nov. 24— Beat No. 17 Alabama 92-81 in the Emerald Coast Classic in Niceville, Fla., as a 6.5-point underdog (covered). The score (173) went over the 153.5 over/under total.
• Nov. 25 — Beat Santa Clara 86-56 in the Emerald Coast Classic in Niceville, Fla., as a 6.5-point favorite (covered). The score (142) went under the 148.5 over/under total.
• Nov. 29— Beat Central Michigan 88-61 at home as a 23.5-point favorite (covered). The score (147) went over the 139.5 over/under total.
• Dec. 3— Beat Minnesota 84-74 at home as a 13.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (158) went over the 142.5 over/under total.
• Dec. 6— Beat Miami of Ohio 84-64 at home as a 23.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (148) went over the 143.5 over/under total.
• Dec. 9— Lost at Penn State 83-80 as a 4.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (163) went over the 146.5 over/under total.
• Dec. 16— Beat UCLA 67-60 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga., as a 1.5-point favorite (covered). The score (137) went over the 132.5 over/under total.
• Dec. 21— Beat New Orleans 78-36 as a 25.5-point favorite (covered). The score (114) went under the 154.5 over/under total.
• Dec. 30— Beat West Virginia 78-75 in overtime in Cleveland, Ohio, as an 8.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (153) went over the 146.5 over/under total.
• Jan. 3— Beat Rutgers 76-72 at home as an 7.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (148) went over the 137.5 over/under total.
• Jan. 6— Lost at Indiana 71-65 as a 1.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (136) went under the 147.5 total.
• Jan. 10— Lost to No. 15 Wisconsin 71-60 at home as a 3.5-point favorite (did not cover). The score (131) went under the 138.5 total.
• Jan. 15— Lost at Michigan 73-65 as a 1.5-point underdog (did not cover). The score (138) went under the 144.5 total.
• Jan. 20— Beat Penn State 79-67 at home as a 9.5-point favorite (covered). The score (146) went under the 151.5 over/under total.
• Jan. 23— Lost at Nebraska 83-69 as a 3.5-point underdog (did not cover). The score (152) went over the 148.5 total.
• Jan. 27— Lost at Northwestern 83-58 as a 2.5-point underdog (did not cover). The score (143) went over the 136.5 total.
• Jan. 30— Lost to No. 14 Illinois 87-75 at home as a 2.5-point underdog (did not cover). The score (162) went over the 146.5 total.
• Feb. 2— Lost at Iowa 79-77 as a 5.5-point underdog (covered). The score (156) went under the 158.5 total.