College Basketball Ohio State @ Kansas Odds, Free Picks and Predictions Saturday on ESPN 12/10/11

Free College Basketball Picks and Spreads: Ohio State Buckeyes @ Kansas Jayhawks 2011 NCAA Basketball Vegas Odds, Free Picks, and Expert Predictions on ESPN Saturday 12/10/11: The second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (8-0) face a big road test Saturday when they travel to Phog Allen Fieldhouse to play the 13th-ranked Kansas Jayhawks (6-2). Coming off a 22-point destruction of the Duke Blue Devils in Columbus, the Buckeyes can prove their worth as one of the top teams in the country with another big win on the road. For the Jayhawks, an upset win would make a serious statement for a team that has already lost to top-ranked Kentucky and the sixth-ranked Blue Devils. Ohio State is a 3 ½-point favorite.

At the center of the battle will be Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger versus Kansas’ Thomas Robinson. Robinson leads the Jayhawks with 17.4 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. Sullinger does the same for the Buckeyes, scoring a team-high 19.1 points per game and grabbing 10.3 rebounds. Sullinger has been the more efficient of the two players, shooting an incredible 62.2 percent from the floor. Robinson and Sullinger will be going at it in the post all afternoon, and the player that controls the paint on both ends is going to give their team a serious advantage. A lingering injury to Sullinger could become a factor, but all reports are that the Buckeyes’ star sophomore is going to be on the court.

While Thomas and Sullinger will be battling in the post, Ohio State guard Aaron Craft and Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor. Craft is the ultimate pest on defense, averaging 2.9 steals per game and shutting down the opposition’s best perimeter player on a regular basis. Taylor fits the bill for the Jayhawks, scoring 16.8 points per game and hitting 57.1 percent of his shots from 3-point range. If Craft can neutralize Taylor, the Kansas offense becomes more or less one dimensional. If Taylor starts knocking down 3-pointers, the Buckeyes could be in trouble.

The two position battles will be a microcosm of a larger battle between two different styles of play. Ohio State is one of the most efficient offensive teams in the country, shooting more than 50 percent from the field as a team. The Buckeyes run the offense through Sullinger in the post, kicking the ball out for open 3-point attempts. They want a slower, half court game. Meanwhile, the Jayhawks want to push the tempo to take advantage of their speed and athleticism. Kansas wants quick positions from both sides, creating more opportunities to score in transition. Whichever side controls the tempo will likely dictate the final outcome.

The X-factor could be Ohio State guard William Buford. He is averaging more than 16 points per game this season and is emerging as one of the better offensive weapons in the Big Ten. Buford has an excellent mid-range game, and he is savvy at moving without the basketball. He is also the one player that can create his own shot and get to the rim when the shot clock is winding down. Kansas will likely try to collapse its defensive around Sullinger, which should give Buford plenty of chances to score. If he makes the Jayhawks pay, the Buckeyes should come away with a tough road win.

In the end, Ohio State’s ability to assert its will on the offensive end will likely be the difference. As long as Sullinger is healthy, the Buckeyes are going to continue to approach 80 points a game. Come crunch time, Ohio State’s success in half court sets will really pay off. The Jayhawks will make their runs, but the consistency of Ohio State on both ends of the court should win out when all is said and done. It won’t be a blowout, but the Buckeyes should pick up another big win Saturday.

Prediction: Ohio State Buckeyes (-3 ½) Cover the Spread

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