Penn State Nittany Lions vs Ohio State Buckeyes Picks and Predictions for Monday, January 26, 2026
Use Code WWWC The Penn State Nittany Lions will be on the road Monday night for a 7:00 PM match-up against the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus, OH, inside Value City Arena. Penn State has nine wins and 10 losses coming into Monday night. The Ohio State Buckeyes return home Monday with thirteen wins and six losses this season. Penn State comes into this matchup playing some of its worst basketball of the season, riding a long losing streak following a 27-point home loss to Wisconsin in its last outing. The Ohio State Buckeyes have been up and down as of late, coming into Monday having won three of the last five following a 12-point road loss to Michigan in their last outing, ending the two-game winning streak. Read more about this Penn State vs Ohio State prediction! Struggling with handicapping? Try our NCAAB Predictions!
Penn State tries to end skid
The Penn State offense has been up and down thus far this season, averaging 76.5 points on 47% shooting from the floor, but has averaged only 72.2 points per game during its last five losses. Defensively, Penn State is allowing 77.4 points per game this season, and the Nittany Lions have given up an average of 86.4 points per game over the last five losses. Offensively, Penn State continued to struggle in its last outing, scoring just 71 points on 36% shooting and 30% from beyond the arc. Defensively, Penn State was obliterated, giving up 98 points on 51% shooting. Wisconsin knocked down 43% of its shots from beyond the arc. The Nittany Lions lost the rebounding battle by 9 and turned the ball over 7 times the loss. Josh Reed led the way for the Penn State offense in their last outing with 18 points on seven shots. The other 4 starters combined to score 20 points on 31 shots. Freddie Dilione V led the way off the Penn State bench with 17 points on 17 shots at 27 minutes. Mason Blackwood scored 14 points on seven shots and 22 minutes off the bench.
Kayden Mingo leads the Penn State offense this season, averaging 14.6 points and 4.6 assists per game. Freddie Dillione V is second on the roster, averaging 13.8 points, as the only other player on the team in double digits. Josh Reed averages 9.4 points in 25.1 minutes per game. Big man Ivan Juric averages 8.9 points and leads the team, pulling in 4.6 rebounds per game.
Key Injury Report for Penn State:
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- Tibor Mirtic (Questionable) - Leg
- Reggie Grodin (Out) - Redshirt
Ohio State looks for a positive at home
Offensively, Ohio State is averaging 82.1 points on 49% shooting from the floor this season, but the Buckeyes have averaged 68 points per game over their last two losses. Defensively, Ohio State is allowing 72.3 points per game this season through 19 games played. Offensively, Ohio State struggled in its last outing, scoring just 62 points on 41% shooting and 30% from beyond the arc. Defensively, Ohio State was outmatched as Michigan scored 74 points on 52% shooting from the floor and knocked down 5 triples in the game. Ohio State lost the rebounding battle by 9 and lost the ball over 13 times. John Mobley Jr. led the way for the Ohio State offense in their last outing with 22 points on 16 shots in 35 minutes. Christoph Tilly added 17 points on 12 shots. Bruce Thornton was the third starter in double digits with 10 points on 11 shots at 34 minutes of action.
Bruce Thornton has led the way for the Ohio State offense this season, averaging 20.1 points and 3.6 assists per game. John Mobley Jr. is second on the team, averaging 15.6 points per game this season. Devin Royal averages 13.9 points to go along with a team-leading 5.8 rebounds per game. Big man Christoph Tilly is 4th on the team, averaging 12.3 points in just under 27 per game this season.
Key Injury Report for Ohio State:
- Brandon Noel (Questionable) - Foot
- Myles Herro (Out) - Redshirt
- Josh Ojianwuna (Questionable) - Knee
Penn State vs Ohio State Pick
- Penn State vs Ohio State Spread Pick
Both teams have been up and down this far this season, but Ohio State is the better team in this matchup. The Buckeyes come into Monday playing the better basketball and will continue that trend in this game. Ohio State is better on both sides of the ball and has had the better 2026 up to this point. Look for Ohio State to overwhelm a struggling Penn State team, start to finish, in this game. Ohio State will do the job, getting the win and covering at home to extend Penn State's losing streak, giving the Buckeyes their 14th victory of the season.
- Penn State vs Ohio State Over/Under Pick
Both teams have scored well this season. Penn State, however, comes into this game struggling on offense, and that will carry over into Monday. Look for the Buckeyes to control the tempo and the speed of this game against a struggling team. Ohio State will get its points Monday night, leading to the win and cover, but Penn State will struggle on offense. Take the under on Monday night as Penn State visits the Ohio State Buckeyes.
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