The No. 25 Ohio State Buckeyes (6-2) host the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (6-2) in a Big Ten conference battle on Thursday night at 7 p.m. ET. Rutgers has won three of their last four outings, including a 63-48 win over the No. 14 Indiana Hoosiers 63-48 on Sunday. The Buckeyes bounced back from a loss in their previous matchup. Ohio State blew out St. Francis 96-59. 

Tip-off at Value City Arena is set for 7 p.m. ET. The Buckeyes are 6.5-point favorites in the latest Rutgers vs. Ohio State odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 136.5. (See up-to-date odds for every game this week on our college basketball odds page.)

Before making any Rutgers vs. Ohio State picks, you NEED to check out what college basketball expert Matt Severance has to say.

Severance is a well-connected writer and handicapper who has worked in the industry since 2005. Over the past two college basketball seasons, Matt is 391-286 (plus $2,714). He has been on a roll during the early stages of the 2022-23 college basketball season, going 37-19-1 in his last 57 picks. Anyone following him is WAY UP.

Severance knows Ohio State has been solid and efficient on the offensive end. The Buckeyes have multiple scorers and ball handlers all over the floor. They are ranked fourth in scoring (80.8) and 3-point percentage (.364) but second in field-goal percentage (.485). Freshman forward Brice Sensabaugh is the leading bucket-getter for this team. He's a combo scorer with the quickness to constantly get into the lane. Sensabaugh averages 14.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.

The expert also knows Rutgers junior center Clifford Omoruyi is a powerful big man down low. Omoruyi has been a major reason that the Scarlet Knights are one of the best rebounding teams in the conference. Rutgers is currently second in the Big Ten in boards (41.5). Omoruyi uses his athleticism and awareness to consistently be in a position to snag rebounds. The Nigeria native is also third in the conference in rebounds (9.8) and seventh in scoring (15.4).

Now, Severance has locked in another confident against-the-spread pick for Rutgers vs. Ohio State. We can tell you he's leaning Under on the total, but he knows a crucial X-factor makes one side of the spread a MUST-BACK! You ABSOLUTELY need to see what it is before locking in any college basketball picks of your own.

So who wins Ohio State vs. Rutgers? And what critical x-factor makes one side a must back? Join SportsLine now to find out, all from the college basketball expert who has crushed his picks!