NCAAB February 5, 2026

This is the kind of Big 12 Conference grind-it-out affair that makes this league so fascinating. West Virginia comes in at 14-8 overall and 5-4 in Big 12 play, holding their own in what has become one of the deepest conferences in college basketball history. The Big 12 currently boasts six ranked teams: No. 1 Arizona (unanimous at 22-0), No. 7 Iowa State, No. 8 Houston, No. 11 Kansas, No. 13 Texas Tech, and No. 16 BYU. That's an absurd level of competition, and the fact that the Mountaineers are sitting above .500 in conference play says something about their toughness under Ross Hodge. West Virginia's defense has been their calling card, posting a defensive efficiency of 93.8 that ranks 20th nationally.

Cincinnati, however, has struggled to find consistency in their Big 12 journey. The Bearcats sit at 11-11 overall and 3-6 in conference, a record that doesn't look great on paper but doesn't tell the full story of a team that upset No. 2 Iowa State earlier this season. That 79-70 victory over the Cyclones was Cincinnati's highest-ranked win in over a decade and proved that Wes Miller's group can punch above its weight class on any given night. Fifth Third Arena has been a sanctuary for the Bearcats, who've lost only one home game all season and are riding a three-game home winning streak. The crowd will be rowdy for this one, and home court matters enormously in a game between two physical, defense-first teams.

The 127.5 total is the lowest on Thursday's board, and for good reason. Both teams prioritize defensive execution over offensive fireworks. West Virginia's road struggles are a legitimate concern. The Mountaineers are just 1-3 on the road in Big 12 play, and when you combine that with Cincinnati's home dominance, you can see why the Bearcats are laying 5.5. The Bearcats do have notable shooting struggles, ranking 340th nationally at 30% from three, but they compensate with rebounding, interior defense, and making opponents earn every bucket. This one will be physical, low-scoring, and decided by which team can execute in the half-court during crunch time.

Ohio State heads to College Park as a 7.5-point road favorite, which tells you everything about where these two Big Ten programs stand right now. The Buckeyes are 14-7 overall and sit 9th in the conference, building momentum after a gritty overtime victory against Minnesota where John Mobley Jr. dropped 26 points and Bruce Thornton added 23. Ohio State's offense has been prolific all season, averaging 82.2 points per game (70th nationally), with an offensive efficiency of 119.3 that ranks 31st. They opened the year by pouring 118 points on IU Indy, setting a program record for most points in a season opener, and that kind of firepower has been a consistent weapon even if the defense hasn't always held up its end of the bargain.

Maryland's season has been a disappointment by any measure. At 8-13 overall, the Terrapins are in the basement of the Big Ten and struggling to find any sort of identity or consistency. The XFINITY Center has been hosting a "Black Out" promotion for this game, trying to generate some energy and atmosphere that might spark a turnaround, but the numbers don't lie. Maryland has been outmatched in the majority of their conference games, and the 8-13 record against the spread suggests the market hasn't been overly kind to them either. Still, home court advantage is never nothing in the Big Ten, and the Terps will be fired up for a nationally televised Thursday night showcase.

The 151.5 total is the highest of the Big Ten games on tonight's slate, reflecting Ohio State's high-scoring approach paired with Maryland's defensive struggles. The Buckeyes' defensive efficiency of 106.7 (210th nationally) is a concerning number, but they've been able to outscore their problems more often than not. The Buckeyes boast a 75.6% implied win probability based on the moneyline, which feels about right for a team with clear offensive advantages traveling to a venue where the home team is desperate but limited. Maryland will need to play the game of their season to keep this within single digits, and Ohio State's ability to create points in bunches through Mobley and Thornton makes that a tall order.

Here's the tightest game on the Thursday board, and the 1.5-point spread confirms what the eye test tells you: this is a genuine toss-up. Memphis travels to Birmingham to face a UAB team that has home-court advantage and little else separating these two squads. The Tigers have been an inconsistent bunch all season, showing flashes of the talent that makes them one of the more dangerous teams in the AAC while also delivering head-scratching performances that leave you questioning their ceiling. Memphis has the name recognition and recruiting pedigree, but translating that into consistent results on the road is something they've struggled with this year.

UAB opened the season with a dominant 106-55 victory over Mississippi Valley State, and Bartow Arena has been a comfortable home for the Blazers throughout the campaign. The slight home favorite status feels right for a team that plays with more energy and cohesion in their own building. UAB's approach is straightforward: defend with intensity, control the pace, and rely on crowd energy to unsettle visiting teams. Against a Memphis squad that can be prone to turnovers and inconsistency, that formula could work beautifully. The -142 moneyline implies roughly a 58% win probability for the Blazers, which captures the thin margin between these teams.

The 153.5 total suggests oddsmakers expect a reasonably high-scoring affair, which plays into Memphis's preferred style when they're clicking offensively. The Tigers want to push tempo, get out in transition, and use their athleticism to create easy baskets. UAB will try to slow things down and make this a half-court game, where execution and discipline matter more than raw talent. Whoever controls the pace controls the game. For Memphis, this is a chance to grab a solid road win that looks good on the resume. For UAB, it's a statement opportunity on their home floor against a program with a national profile. Either way, expect a competitive, back-and-forth battle that could easily come down to the final possession.