We know you’re still stewing and simmering from the loss to Michigan, the second straight year the Ohio State football team has been soundly beaten by “That Team Up North.” But, never fear Buckeye fans, things aren’t as bad as they seem, and time heals all when it comes to love, war, and big-time college football.
But while you are licking your wounds, we are here to remind you that the other revenue sport, basketball, is in full swing now with the Ohio State basketball team coming off of a pretty solid showing in Maui and working its way into the top 25. There’s a showdown with Duke looming this week, so that should be enough to turn the page and watch some Buckeye hoops.
How this year’s team does remains to be seen with so many new faces, but there’s enough talent to surprise plenty of folks if the collective group can come together.
With that in mind, we like to get an idea of what the analytics say about the Buckeyes’ chances in each game this year so we’ll be checking in with the ESPN BPI matchup predictor to see what it says for each game on the 2022-2023 schedule. Ohio State is 5-1 so far, and now that it’s back from the islands, here’s how ESPN sees the rest of the season going.
Weds., Nov. 30, vs. at Duke
Ohio State Buckeyes forward E.J. Liddell (32) guards Duke Blue Devils forward Paolo Banchero (5) as he shoots during the second half of the NCAA men’s basketball game at Value City Arena in Columbus on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. Ohio State won 71-66. Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Predicted Winner: Duke Win Probability: 58.4% Running predictive record: 5-2 (0-0 in Big Ten)
Saturday, Dec. 3, vs. St. Francis, PA
Nov 7, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Zed Key (23) celebrates his three-point basket during the first half against the Robert Morris Colonials at Value City Arena. Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Predicted Winner: Ohio State Win Probability: 96.6% Running predictive record: 6-2 (0-0 in Big Ten)
Thursday, Dec. 8, vs. Rutgers
Mar 6, 2022; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; The Rutgers Scarlet Knights mascot performs during the second half of the game between the Scarlet Knights and the Penn State Nittany Lions at Jersey Mike’s Arena Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Predicted Winner: Ohio State Win Probability: 77.8% Running predictive record: 7-2 (1-0 in Big Ten)
Saturday, Dec. 17, vs. North Carolina (CBS Sports Classic in New York City)
Apr 4, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis looks on during the first half of the game against the Kansas Jayhawks during the 2022 NCAA men’s basketball tournament Final Four championship game at Caesars Superdome. Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Predicted Winner: Ohio State Win Probability: 58.0% Running predictive record: 8-2 (1-0 in Big Ten)
Wednesday, Dec. 21, vs. Maine
Nov 7, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Chris Holtmann watches during the first half of the NCAA men’s basketball game against the Robert Morris Colonials at Value City Arena. Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch
Predicted Winner: Ohio State Win Probability: 96.0% Running predictive record: 9-2 (1-0 in Big Ten)
Thursday, Dec. 29, vs. Alabama A&M
Nov 16, 2022; Columbus, OH, USA; Teammates congratulate a three pointer by Ohio State Buckeyes guard Tanner Holden (0) during the second half of the NCAA men’s basketball game at Value City Arena. Ohio State won 65-43. Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus DispatchBasketball Eastern Illinois At Ohio State
Predicted Winner: Ohio State Win Probability: 98.3% Running predictive record: 10-2 (1-0 in Big Ten)
Sunday, Jan. 1, at Northwestern
March 7, 2020; Evanston, Illinois; Northwestern Wildcats head coach Chris Collins gestures to his team during the first half at Welsh-Ryan Arena. David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Predicted Winner: Ohio State Win Probability: 57.5% Running predictive record: 11-2 (2-0 in Big Ten)
Thursday, Jan. 5, vs. Purdue
Purdue head coach Matt Painter reacts during the first half of an NCAA men’s basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette. Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Predicted Winner: Ohio State Win Probability: 66.3% Running predictive record: 12-2 (3-0 in Big Ten)
Sunday, Jan. 8, at Maryland
Feb 23, 2019; College Park, MD, USA; Scott Van Pelt reacts after Maryland Terrapins guard Anthony Cowan Jr. (not pictured) makes a three-point shot in the first half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at XFINITY Center. Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Predicted Winner: Maryland Win Probability: 57.6% Running predictive record: 12-3 (3-1 in Big Ten)
Thursday, Jan. 12 vs. Minnesota
Nov 24, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers mascot Goldy entertains the crowd prior to the game against the North Dakota Fighting Hawks at Williams Arena. Credit: Harrison Barden-USA TODAY Sports
Predicted Winner: Ohio State Win Probability: 91.2% Running predictive record: 13-3 (4-1 in Big Ten)
Sunday, Jan. 15, at Rutgers
Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell calls out to players during the second half of the team’s NCAA college basketball game against Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
Predicted Winner: Rutgers Win Probability: 53.0% Running predictive record: 13-4 (4-2 in Big Ten)
Wednesday, Jan. 18, at Nebraska
Mar 1, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Fred Hoiberg during the first half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Value City Arena. Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Predicted Winner: Ohio State Win Probability: 63.6% Running predictive record: 14-4 (5-2 in Big Ten)
Saturday, Jan. 21, vs. Iowa
Feb 19, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Fran McCaffrey during the first half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Value City Arena. Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Predicted Winner: Ohio State Win Probability: 69.1% Running predictive record: 15-4 (6-2 in Big Ten)
Tuesday, Jan. 24, at Illinois
Mar 21, 2021; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts to a play against the Loyola Ramblers during the second half in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Loyola Ramblers won 71-58. Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Predicted Winner: Illinois Win Probability: 57.7% Running predictive record: 15-5 (6-3 in Big Ten)
Saturday, Jan. 28, at Indiana
Feb 21, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (23) reacts as time winds down in overtime against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Value City Arena. Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Predicted Winner: Indiana Win Probability: 73.6% Running predictive record: 15-6 (6-4 in Big Ten)
Thursday, Feb. 2. vs. Wisconsin
Dec 11, 2021; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Tyler Wahl (5) dribbles as he is defended by Ohio State Buckeyes forward E.J. Liddell (32) during the first half at Value City Arena. Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Predicted Winner: Ohio State Win Probability: 77.6% Running predictive record: 16-6 (7-4 in Big Ten)
Sunday, Feb. 5, at Michigan
Michigan head coach Juwan Howard is shown during the first half of their game Sunday, February 20, 2022, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin beat Michigan 77-63.MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL
Predicted Winner: Ohio State Win Probability: 65.0% Running predictive record: 17-6 (8-4 in Big Ten)
Thursday, Feb. 9, vs. Northwestern
Northwestern Wildcats forward Pete Nance (22) is guarded by Ohio State Buckeyes forward E.J. Liddell (32) during the second half of Wednesday’s NCAA Division I basketball game at Value City Arena in Columbus, Oh., on Wednesday, January 13, 2021. Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Predicted Winner: Ohio State Win Probability: 82.1% Running predictive record: 18-6 (9-4 in Big Ten)
Sunday, Feb. 12, vs. Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo watches during the first half of the NCAA men’s basketball game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Value City Arena in Columbus on March 3, 2022. Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Predicted Winner: Ohio State Win Probability: 79.1% Running predictive record: 19-6 (10-4 in Big Ten)
Thursday, Feb. 16, at Iowa
Ohio State forward Kyle Young, left, looks to inbound the ball as Iowa forward Patrick McCaffery (22) defends during an NCAA Big Ten Conference men’s basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Predicted Winner: Iowa Win Probability: 63.9% Running predictive record: 19-7 (10-5 in Big Ten)
Sunday, Feb. 19, at Purdue
Ohio State forward E.J. Liddell (32) dribbles against Purdue center Zach Edey (15) during the first half of an NCAA men’s basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette. Credit: USA TODAY SportsBkc Purdue Vs Ohio State
Predicted Winner: Purdue Win Probability: 64.3% Running predictive record: 19-8 (10-6 in Big Ten)
Thursday, Feb. 23, vs. Penn State
Feb 7, 2018; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions mascot and cheerleaders dance on the court during a stoppage in play against the Maryland Terrapins at Bryce Jordan Center. Credit: Eric Firestine-USA TODAY Sports
Predicted Winner: Ohio State Win Probability: 80.5% Running predictive record: 20-8 (11-6 in Big Ten)
Sunday, Feb. 26, vs. Illinois
Illinois guard Adam Miller, bottom, passes against Ohio State forward Justice Sueing during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, March 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
Predicted Winner: Ohio State Win Probability: 71.0% Running predictive record: 21-8 (12-6 in Big Ten)
Wednesday, March 1, vs. Maryland
Feb 6, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Maryland Terrapins guard Eric Ayala (5) dribbles past Ohio State Buckeyes guard Jamari Wheeler (55) during the first half at Value City Arena. Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Predicted Winner: Ohio State Win Probability: 72.2% Running predictive record: 22-8 (13-6 in Big Ten)
Saturday, March 4, at Michigan State
Ohio State Buckeyes guard Malaki Branham (22) dunks over Michigan State Spartans guard Max Christie (5) and forward Marcus Bingham Jr. (30) during the second half of the NCAA men’s basketball game at Value City Arena in Columbus on March 3, 2022. Ohio State won 80-69.Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Predicted Winner: Ohio State Win Probability: 52.0% Running predictive record: 23-8 (14-6 in Big Ten)
