The Ohio State Buckeyes take on the Michigan Wolverines in the 2026 Big Ten Tournament in Chicago, Illinois. Tip-off is set for 12:00 p.m. ET on BTN.
Michigan is favored by -12.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -800. Ohio State, meanwhile, enters as a +12.5 underdog and is +550 on the moneyline to pull off the upset. The over/under sits at 154.5 total points
Here’s my Ohio State vs. Michigan predictions and college basketball picks for March 13, 2026.
Ohio State vs Michigan Prediction, Pick
My Pick: Yaxel Lendeborg Over Points Prop
My Ohio State vs Michigan best bet is on Lendeborg over his points prop. 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 Odds, Betting Line, Spread
| Ohio State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+13 -110 | 155.5 -110o / -110u | +700 |
| Michigan Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-13 -110 | 155.5 -110o / -110u | -1100 |
- Ohio State vs Michigan spread: Michigan -13
- Ohio State vs Michigan over/under: 155.5 points
- Ohio State vs Michigan moneyline: Ohio State +700, Michigan -1100
Ohio State vs Michigan 2026 Big Ten Quarterfinal Picks
Ohio State Buckeyes Betting Preview
After falling to Duke for just its second loss of the season, Dusty May’s Wolverines rebounded nicely with four consecutive wins to end its regular season schedule, including double-digit victories over two elite foes in Illinois and Michigan State.
May’s bunch has all but secured a top seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, but the Wolverines will undoubtedly keep their foot on the gas with the No. 1 overall seed in the entire tournament still at stake.
The Wolverines' roster has a ton of experience from top to bottom, which is a vital component for a team that fits the characteristics of an eventual national champion.
Yaxel Lendeborg leads a Michigan offense with 15 points per game this season.
Michigan Wolverines Betting Preview
The Big Ten’s eighth-seeded Buckeyes are coming off a stellar victory over a versatile Iowa bunch and now find themselves in a third meeting with arguably the best team in college basketball.
In the first two meetings, Ohio State was defeated by an average margin of nearly 17 points — which it surely will look to improve on ahead of Friday’s Big Ten clash.
As they say, it's very difficult to beat the same team three times, which is certainly a narrative ahead of this Big Ten quarterfinal matchup. The Buckeyes have been rather inconsistent for a large portion of the season, but they're starting to gain some confidence before Selection Sunday.
According to ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi, the Buckeyes are currently projected to be a part of the tournament field, with an incredible seven Quad I victories. Ohio State played a very difficult schedule, which will definitely be considered by the tournament committee.
Leading the charge for Ohio State’s offense is 6-foot-2 senior guard Bruce Thornton, who's averaging 20 points per game in his fourth season in Columbus. The Buckeyes' point guard is also posting over five rebounds and four assists on average for an Ohio State offense scoring over 81 points per contest.
How To Bet My Ohio State vs Michigan Expert NCAAB Pick
While the “beating the same team three times" notion often holds true, I'm not confident that it will in this case, as the Buckeyes meet a Michigan team with as good a chance as anyone to cut down the nets in a few weeks’ time.
I just think the Wolverines are the far better team in this matchup, but I'll be looking to take more of a unique approach betting this matchup as the Buckeyes are very motivated.
I'll be looking to target the Buckeyes’ lack of efficiency on the defensive end of the floor. Ohio State’s guards boast tremendous athleticism, but its forwards have proven to be very exploitable on the offensive end.
I'll be backing Wolverines senior leader Lendeborg to exceed his points total in what will likely lead to a hard-fought Michigan victory.
My Pick: Yaxel Lendeborg Over Points
