Sweet 16: Ohio State Buckeyes (1) vs. Kentucky Wildcats (4) Fri. March 25, 2011 9:45 p.m. EST

As perhaps one of the most anticipated matchups of the Sweet 16, Jared Sullinger and the top seeded Ohio State Buckeyes (1) will take on John Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats (4) for a chance to advance to the Elite 8 and face either the North Carolina Tar Heels (2) or the Marquette Golden Eagles (11).

Even though there are still two more rounds (Elite 8, Final Four) to fight through before one of these two teams can make their way to the National Championship game, the Buckeyes and the Wildcats will be acting as if this showdown in the Sweet 16 is the National Championship game as this will without a doubt be the toughest matchup for both of these storied college basketball programs this season.

The one player to watch in this matchup, and for the rest of the 2011 NCAA Tournament for that matter, is Ohio State Buckeyes (1) big man Jared Sullinger. With an ability to take over a game all by himself, head coach John Calipari will be putting all his efforts into trying to find a way to stop this beast in the middle. In the beginning of their game against George Mason, the Patriots thought they may have figured out a way to get the best of the NBA bound Sullinger, but that didn’t last long as the Buckeyes flipped the switch and destroyed the Patriots in the second half.

With their second consecutive blowout in the books, the Ohio State Buckeyes (1) have quickly become the team to beat in the 2011 NCAA Tournament and will almost certainly be on their way to their third straight win over the Kentucky Wildcats (4).

As of right now, the Buckeyes are favored to win their matchup with the Wildcats with a -5.5 point spread.

Take Ohio State at -5.5.

Leading online sportsbooks show the following odds and spreads on this game:

Bodog Sportsbook:
Spread: Ohio State Buckeyes +6 & Kentucky Wildcats -6
Moneyline: Ohio State Buckeyes +210 & Kentucky Wildcats -250
Over/Under: Ohio State Buckeyes 110 Kentucky Wildcats 110 under (140)

Bookmaker Sportsbook:
Spread: Ohio State Buckeyes +5.5 & Kentucky Wildcats -5.5
Moneyline: Ohio State Buckeyes +210 & Kentucky Wildcats -250
Over/Under: Ohio State Buckeyes 110 Kentucky Wildcats 110 under (140)

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• March Madness: George Mason (8) vs. Ohio State (1) odds and predictions
• Kentucky takes out Ohio State and UNC to advance to Final Four
• Ohio State locks up number seed of East Region of NCAA Tournament
• Defending NCAA champion Duke Blue Devils and Ohio State Buckeyes fall in Elite Eight
• Will Jared Sullinger stay at Ohio State or make the jump to the NBA?