College Basketball Betting – Buckeyes Push Forward Without Sullinger

After falling to the Kansas Jayhawks over the weekend in their first loss of the season, the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes made a statement on Wednesday night against USC Upstate, even without their leading scorer Jared Sullinger out of the lineup. Sullinger is expected to be back in the lineup for the Buckeyes for Saturday’s game against the South Carolina Gamecocks, but if Ohio State is going to move up to first this weekend they will need some help across the NCAA basketball betting nation.

(2) Ohio State Buckeyes @ South Carolina Gamecocks

Saturday, 12:00 PM ET

Sullinger’s status is still unknown heading in to this weekend, but the Buckeyes should be okay without him for the next couple of weeks without another game against one of the top-ranked teams in the country. The tandem of William Buford and Deshaun Thomas becomes even more important for Ohio State with Sullinger out, particularly in their lone road date before three straight at home. The Gamecocks have gotten off to a slow start in the SEC, including a 25-point loss to the Tar Heels in late November, so they shouldn’t be much of a threat as the underdogs to Ohio State according to the pay head bookies.

College Basketball Betting Pick: Ohio State Buckeyes

(1) Syracuse Orange @ North Carolina State Wolfpack

Saturday, 6:30 PM ET

With a ton of teams losing at the top of the national rankings, the Orange become the last team standing at No. 1, with a visit to North Carolina State set for this Saturday. Syracuse squeezed past Florida by four in their only matchup against a top-25 opponent, and while a talented Wolfpack team should push them, the Orange will prevail as modest sports betting favorites.

College Basketball Betting Pick: Syracuse Orange