Ohio State basketball vs. Alabama: Odds, preview, prediction, lineups, TV

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio State basketball team will face Alabama on Friday as part of the Emerald Coast Classic.

The non-conference event features two days of games at Northwest Florida State College. Other games include Oregon vs. Santa Clara; Mercer vs. Tennessee State; and Southeastern Louisiana vs. Western Michigan.

This will be the seventh meeting between the two programs but the first since 2002 when the fourth-ranked Crimson Tide came to Columbus and beat OSU, 54-48. The series is tied at three games apiece.

The point spread: Alabama minus-8; over-under 152.

Where: Raider Arena, Northwest Florida State College, Niceville, Fl.

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

TV: CBS Sports Network.

Ohio State projected starters

Bruce Thornton, guard, 15.2 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 4.5 apg.

Roddy Gayle Jr., guard, 14.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 4.0 apg.

Evan Mahaffey, guard, 3.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.0 apg.

Jamison Battle, forward, 11.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.3 apg.

Felix Okpara, center, 4.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 0.3 apg.

Alabama projected starters

Aaron Estrada, guard, 15.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.0 apg.

Rylan Griffen, guard, 7.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.8 apg.

Mark Sears, guard, 19.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.5 apg.

Grant Nelson, forward, 13.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.5 apg.

Nick Pringle, center, 8.3 ppg, 753 rpg, 0.3 apg.

BET ANYTHING

GET $250 BONUS

ESPN BET

What to Watch For

Jamison Battle was brought here because of the scoring production he showed he was capable of at Minnesota during the 2021-22 season. That production fell off last season but there was an idea that he could get back to that level with a change of scenery. But that’s yet to be the case through four games r shooting just 40% from the field.

He has been a reliable three-point shoot shooter, though at 39.1% on almost six attempts per game. Another scoring threat only helps this team as it heads into this tournament. Maybe a matchup with the Crimson Tide will unlock that.

Stephen’s pick: The Buckeyes haven’t shown yet they’re capable of competing with the nation’s best, which is exactly what Alabama is. This tournament should be a chance for a still relatively young group to keep growing even if it takes a loss for that to happen.