Marshall vs. Ohio State Prediction, Men's College Basketball Odds & Best Bets (11/9)

Fact checked at 9:41 AM ET, Nov 9, 2026

Odds as of 8:30 AM ET, Nov 9, 2026

Two days after letting an 11-point halftime lead slip away in an 81-76 home loss to Toledo, Marshall goes to Columbus for a 6:00 PM ET tip at the Schottenstein Center. This is the Herd's third game in eight days and their first away from home. Both teams are 1-1, so everything below rests on two games apiece. Ohio State's size and balance should wear down a tired Marshall team whose offense stalls on the road, with the Buckeyes winning easily in a game that finishes in the 150s instead of climbing past 162.5. Both picks need Marshall kept in the mid-60s.

Marshall vs. Ohio State Predictions

• Pick #1: Under 162.5 (-110)
• Pick #2: Ohio State -25.5 (-115)

PICK #1: Under 162.5 (-110)

The ratings and the market disagree on this total. One widely used rating system projects a 157-point game, and another model lands at 155. That's five to seven points under the line. The games so far point the same way. Both of Marshall's games finished with 157 total points, and Ohio State's home win over Youngstown State finished with 154. Of the four games these teams have played, only Ohio State's 94-83 loss to BYU in Salt Lake City went over 162.5.

Neither offense has shot it well. Ohio State is 13-of-47 from three and has scored in the paint and at the line. Marshall shot 29-of-70 with 16 turnovers against Toledo, and it plays tonight on one day's rest.

We're going against the bettors here. The Over has 97% of the money on 71% of the tickets. At -110, the implied probability is 52.4%. The danger is free throws and pace. Marshall likes to push the ball, Ohio State shot 34 free throws against Youngstown State, Toledo shot 35 against Marshall, and BYU put up 60 in the second half against the Buckeyes. If the whistles keep coming, this can reach 163 even with poor shooting.

PICK #2: Ohio State -25.5 (-115)

Ohio State gets its points from all over. Ten or more Buckeyes have scored in each of their two games, and they've had a different leading scorer each time. Andrija Jelavic, a 6-foot-11 Kentucky transfer, came into the season with a career high of nine points and has scored 13 and 21 since, with nine rebounds in each game. Youngstown State was tied with the Buckeyes at 44 with 15 minutes to play, and Ohio State still won 89-65 after a 13-0 second-half run broke open a one-point game. John Mobley Jr. scored 25 on 9-for-9 free throws, and Amare Bynum had 15.

Marshall fell apart after halftime against Toledo, which scored 54 points and shot 55 percent in the second half. "I thought we gave this game away," head coach Cornelius Jackson said afterward. After one day off, the Herd are on the road.

That same rating system makes Ohio State about a 27-point favorite, slightly more than this line. The other model's margin is closer to 25, so this isn't a big edge. A -115 price implies 53.5%. The spread money is with us, with 89% of it on Ohio State on 76% of the bets.

Marshall's guards can keep this inside the number. Bryce Slay is averaging 21 points on 57 percent shooting, Noah Otshudi is averaging 19 points and five assists, and the pair scored 45 of Marshall's 76 points against Toledo. Marshall also beat Toledo on the boards 49-38, with 15 offensive rebounds, and second chances are how big underdogs hang around. Neither school puts out an availability report, so both rotations are projected from their first two games.

21+ (18+ where permitted). Odds subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.