Ohio State became more of a machine when Jake Deibler took over late last season, and Texas stockpiled transfer portal talent over the offseason. This should lead to a high-scoring season opener in Las Vegas.
4 November 2024 • 09:10 ET • 4 min read
Image by – Imagine Pictures. Pictured: Bruce Thornton
The college basketball season is back, and Ohio State’s Jake Deibler begins his tenure as full-time head coach against the top-ranked Texans at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Both teams relied on explosive guards to execute their offenses last season, and I expect much of the same in my Ohio State vs. Texas predictions and college basketball picks for Monday, November 4.
My best bet
Over 146 (-110 at Bet365)
Analytical
Although both teams have brought a new look to the ground this season with the Ohio State Buckeyes having Jake Deibler as full-time coach and the Texas Longhorns loading up through the transfer portal, neither team should be fundamentally different.
Last season, both programs were among the top bets in the power conferences, with the Buckeyes winning 22 of 36 games (61.1%) and Texas winning 20 of 34 games (58.8%). Both programs finished the year better — with the Buckeyes winning 13 of their last 18 games and the Longhorns winning 15 of their last 21 games.
Deibler was the interim bench boss for the Buckeyes for the final 11 of those games, and during that span Ohio State averaged 77.9 points per game — up from its season average of 75.5. He also managed to bring back the Buckeyes’ leading scorer from last season, Bruce Thornton.
Thornton scored 15.7 points per game last year and moved away from playing ISO ball once Deibler took over, which is a big reason why the offense started to blossom. Diebler was also able to bring some key pieces to the portal, including Meecie Johnson Jr.
Johnson, who began his career at Ohio State, spent the last two seasons at South Carolina averaging double-digit points. He and Thornton give the Buckeyes a talented scoring backcourt, which is a big reason why Ohio State’s offense ranks No. 24 in KenPom’s preseason rankings.
However, the defense remains questionable — KenPom ranks 39th — and the Longhorns should be able to exploit it with their new additions.
Despite the departure of last year’s top scorers Max Abbas and Dylan Disu, Rodney Terry has brought in the perfect replacements. Guard Tramon Mark (Arkansas) and forward Arthur Kaluma (Kansas State) should fill their roles well.
And those weren’t the only talented new additions, as Oregon State’s Jordan Pope, Indiana State’s Jason Kent and Julian Leary give Terry plenty of scorers he can rely on. These five averaged double figures last season at their previous schools.
That depth should create problems for an Ohio State rotation that was rarely deeper than seven last season.
Featuring several skilled scorers, this neutral site opener should see enough points for an extra shot.
Texas vs Ohio State same game invest
More than 145.5
Mitchie Johnson Jr. over 9.5 points
Tramon Mark more than 12.5 points
It’s not often that you see a rotational player move from one program only to come back a few seasons later after establishing himself as a star scorer at another program. But that’s exactly what Johnson does, which shows how much respect he has for Deibler, the coach who initially hired him in Columbus.
Johnson put up 14.1 points per game for the Gamecocks last season and there’s no reason to believe he’ll have a lesser role in Columbus. The senior scored more than 10 points in 22 of 33 games last season (66.7%).
Another transfer set to shine on the other side of the pitch is Tramon Mark. The former Houston and Arkansas guard averaged 16.2 last season with the Razorbacks and had at least 13 points in 19 of 31 games (61.2%).
With Abmas gone, there is a big role available in Terry’s backcourt, and Mark is the perfect player to fill that role.
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Texas vs. Ohio State live odds for Texas vs. Ohio Opening odds Texas vs. Ohio Spread: Texas -3 | Ohio State +3 Money Line: Texas -155 | Ohio State +130 Over/Under: Over 146 | Under 146
Odds provided by bet365
Texas vs. Ohio State betting trend to know
Texas has had a game total of more than 15 of its last 21 games (+8.40 units / 36% ROI). Find out more college basketball betting trends for Texas vs. Ohio State.
How to Watch Texas vs Ohio State Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV Date: Monday 4-11-2024 Report: 10:00 PM ET: TNT Texas vs Ohio State Key Injuries
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