The Ohio State Buckeyes take on the Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing, MI. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET on CBS.
Michigan State is favored by 10.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -670. The total is set at 144.5 points.
Here’s my Ohio State vs. Michigan State prediction and college basketball picks for February 22, 2026.
Ohio State vs Michigan State Prediction
My Pick: Michigan State ML Parlay Target
My Ohio State vs Michigan State best bet is on the Spartans moneyline. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Ohio State vs. Michigan State Odds
| Ohio State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+10.5 -114 | 146.5 -105o / -115u | +450 |
| Michigan St Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-10.5 -106 | 146.5 -105o / -115u | -630 |
Ohio State vs Michigan State Betting Preview
Ohio State Basketball
Ohio State enters Sunday's matchup with a 17-9 overall record, including a 9-6 mark in Big Ten play. The Buckeyes have had a very up-and-down month, alternating wins and losses in their last nine contests.
The Buckeyes are surely on the bubble and could surely use a big road victory over Tom Izzo’s Spartans.
Head coach Jake Diebler looks to lead Ohio State to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2022. Fortunately for the second-year head coach, seven of the Buckeyes’ nine losses this season have come against Quad 1 opponents.
Leading the charge for Ohio State’s offense is 6-foot-2 senior guard Bruce Thornton, who's averaging 20 points per game. The Buckeyes' point guard is also posting over five rebounds and four assists on average for an Ohio State offense that's scoring over 81 points per contest.
The Buckeyes' offense also ranks 21st in the country in offensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
Alongside Thornton in Diebler’s backcourt, John Mobley Jr. has also proven to be an exceptional scorer with over 15 points per contest. The sophomore has a hand injury and still has no timetable to return.
Devin Royal has also thrived on the offensive end, posting over 15 points per contest.
The Buckeyes' frontcourt has made a greater impact on the other end of the floor, with its center Christoph Tilly excelling as a rim protector, making it very difficult for opponents to find open looks inside the lane.
Tilly is the best defender for a Buckeyes team that ranks outside the top 60 in the country in defensive efficiency, per Haslametrics.
Michigan State Basketball
The 15th-ranked Spartans head into Sunday’s contest with a 21-5 overall record on the season, having won 11 of their first 15 games in conference play.
Leading the way for Michigan State’s offense is its 6-foot-2 point guard Jeremy Fears Jr., who's averaging over 15 points per game.
While Fears has proven to be an elite scorer, he's been even more effective as the team’s floor general, posting 9.3 assists per contest (first in college basketball).
There was some slight concern regarding Fears’ behavior on the floor, with several Grayson Allen-esque intentional trips and hard fouls, but Tom Izzo appears to have his point guard back on track.
Michigan State has an extremely well-rounded lineup, with four of its five starters averaging double figures in scoring. The Spartans' backcourt also features Coen Carr, a spectacular two-way player who's surely one of the most athletic players in all of college basketball.
Izzo’s offense is scoring 79 points per game, and the Spartans also rank in the top 40 in the country in offensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
While Michigan State has been solid offensively, it’s the Spartans' play on the other end of the floor that makes them one of the most dangerous teams.
The Spartans rank sixth in college basketball in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom. Izzo’s bunch is allowing just over 63 points per game, an unbelievably impressive figure while playing an extremely difficult Big Ten schedule loaded with opponents boasting exceptional offensive firepower.
The Spartans' frontcourt features a couple of fantastic rim protectors in Carson Cooper and Jaxon Kohler.
Though Kohler is scoring over 12 points, it's his effectiveness on the glass that provides the most value to this Michigan State squad, which ranks 28th nationally with 9.3 rebounds per contest.
On defense, this duo has made it extremely difficult for opposing forwards to find open looks near the basket.
Ohio State vs. Michigan State Betting Analysis
There's no doubt that the Spartans could use another win prior to next week’s road trip, but for the Buckeyes, this is a borderline must-win game if they're to hold out hope for an at-large bid.
I have a tough time going against Michigan State here, considering how dominant the Spartans have been playing on their home floor.
I'm not crazy about laying a big number on Michigan State to cover the spread versus a Buckeye squad desperate for an upset victory.
So, instead, I'll be targeting Michigan State as a moneyline parlay piece in Sunday’s contest, as I'm far more confident in Izzo’s Spartans winning the game outright.
My Pick: Michigan State ML Parlay Target
