NCAA Tournament Betting: Kentucky Wildcats vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Odds and Stats

The Kentucky Wildcats and the Ohio State Buckeyes will both be battle to pick up a win on the 2011 Sweet Sixteen betting on Friday March 24, 2011 at Prudential Center.

BetED sportsbook currently have the Ohio State Buckeyes listed as 5½-point favorites versus the Wildcats, and the total for the game is listed at 140.

Not only do the Buckeyes look dominant on the court but they appear rather ‘AWESOME’ on page two as well.
Don’t get us wrong, as one of only four Sweet 16 returnees, John Calipari’s Bluegrass Cats can run with the best of them. However, our database points out that these returnees are an underwhelming 4-15 SU and 4-14-1 ATS when facing .860 or greater opposition in this round.

In addition, the ‘Cats haven’t exactly run ‘Wild’ outside of Lexington, posting a 3-7 ATS mark off a SU and ATS win.

That’s not a formula for success against an Ohio State squad that is ranked No. 2 in the nation in Offensive Field Goal Percentage (49.9) and is 5-1 ATS in its last six contests versus the SEC.

One shining light is Calipari’s 6-2 SU and ATS in Sweet 16 battles but Buckeyes supporters can turn to head coach Thad Matta’s impressive 40-15-1 ATS record as a single-digit favorite off a SU and ATS win, including 25-6-1 ATS versus a foe off back-to-back SU wins. They can also relish the fact that Sweet 16 chalk off a win of 30 or more points are 6-1 ATS as favorites of seven or less points.

Simply put, there’s just way too much firepower on the Ohio State sidelines for these young Kentucky kittens. Lay it and play it.