Alabama A&M Bulldogs vs. Ohio State Buckeyes December 29 Betting Preview

Alabama A&M isn’t easing into SWAC play. Before opening conference play, the Bulldogs had a three-game road swing against Illinois, Vanderbilt and now Ohio State. Alabama A&M, which has lost three of its past four games, will be in for a tough matchup with the Buckeyes.

Ohio State hasn’t had many easy games during the non-conference schedule. The Buckeyes have been thoroughly tested, including games with Duke, Texas Tech, San Diego State, and North Carolina. 

Ohio State has won three of its last four games and would like to claim another before entering Big Ten play.

Bulldogs Have a Tough Road Ahead

Alabama A&M’s record is a bit padded, even at 4-8. The Bulldogs have three wins over sub Division I opponents. Alabama A&M’s only win over another Division I opponent came December 9 vs. Lipscomb. 

The Bulldogs have shown an acumen for outside shooting. Alabama A&M shoots 41 percent from the outside, which ranks fifth nationally. The Bulldogs have also shot well from the field in general, knocking down 44.8 percent of their shots. 

Garrett Hicks (15.8 points), Dailin Smith (12.1), and Messiah Thompson (10.6) all score in double figures for Alabama A&M. The Bulldogs are 6-3 against the spread this season. 

The total has gone over in five of their nine games. In two previous meetings with schools from power conferences, Alabama A&M lost by 21 to Illinois and eight to Vanderbilt.

Buckeyes Ramping Up For Big Games

Ohio State’s offense has been pushing the pace all season. The Buckeyes have scored 80.9 points per game, which ranks 34th nationally. Ohio State also shoots 49.1 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from the three-point line. 

The Buckeyes have won three of their past four games, including a tough overtime loss to North Carolina. Ohio State has four players scoring in double figures. 

Brice Sensabaugh leads the team by averaging 15.3 points per game. Zed Key (14.0), Justice Sueing (13.2), and Bruce Thornton (10.6) all score in double figures for the Buckeyes. 

Ohio State has seen the total go over in six of its past eight games. The Buckeyes have gone 2-3 against the spread in their past five games.

Odds

Ohio State is a heavy favorite to knock off Alabama A&M at home. The Buckeyes, however, will have to be careful with the Bulldogs’ offense. While Alabama A&M has played a soft schedule, the Bulldogs have shown they are capable of getting good shots.

This should be a game that Ohio State controls, but the game could sneak over the total if the Bulldogs are capable of keeping up with the Buckeyes’ offense. Ohio State has a diverse offense that has plenty of scoring options.