Game:   (717) Cincinnati (0-0) @ (718) Ohio State (0-0)
Time:     Wed. 11/06  8:30 PM EST at Value City Arena
Spread: Ohio State -6  ML: -260/+220 Total: 140.5  at 5Dimes
Tools:    Public Consensus | View Matchups | Bet This Game

Cincinnati takes on Ohio State in a battle for Ohio at the Value City Arena in Columbus. Ohio State comes into the season ranked #18 in the AP Top 25. This is the first top-25 ranking since the 2014-15 season. The unranked Bearcats aren’t ranked this year under new head coach John Brannen. The former head coach at Northern Kentucky brings four transfers along with Cincinnati’s returners.

CINCINNATI – Cincinnati did lose their coach, but they still have their top player Jarron Cumberland back again, who opted to return for his senior season. Cumberland was the AAC Player of the Year last season after averaging 18.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game.  His cousin Jaevin Cumberland has transferred in from Oakland where he averaged 17.2 points per game last season. Fellow grad transfers Chris McNeal and Jaume Sorolla bring in some experienced options to fill in some of the depth concerns.

OHIO STATE –  Coach Chris Holtmann has brought in the Big Ten’s top recruiting class and returns six of his top eight scorers from last season. This is still a young team, with just one senior on the roster. Kaleb Wesson and Andre Wesson are back to man the frontcourt. Kaleb led the team with 14.6 points and 6.9 rebounds last season.  Luther Muhammad and Duane Washington both had productive freshmen campaigns. Muhammad averaged 7.6 points per game and shot 37.5 percent from long range. Washington played far fewer minutes but took more shots than Muhammad. He could emerge as a prolific scorer with more efficiency. Florida transfer CJ Walker and incoming freshman D.J. Carton will take over the point guard duties.

Ohio State has a chance to be really good this year. Cincinnati is also quality team, but we’ll find out if they can play uptempo with Ohio State. Cincinnati will have a difficult time covering the Wessen brothers.  Last year Ohio State won this game 64-56.  Cincinnati was considered better and Ohio State was considered worse at that time. If Ohio State fills the point guard role they will be a tough team to beat they should be able to duplicate last year’s results and cover the spread.