Ohio State vs. Wisconsin Betting Preview
This Ohio State vs. Wisconsin betting preview is courtesy of Sportsbook.com.
Undefeated No. 1 Ohio State looks to win its 14th straight true road game when it visits No. 13 Wisconsin on Saturday afternoon.
The Buckeyes rank third in the nation in field goal percentage (49.6%), 24th in points scored (77.8 PPG) and sixth in scoring defense (57.8 PPG). Their 20-point scoring margin is the second-best in the nation. Ohio State hasn't played since an 82-69 victory at Minnesota on Sunday when Jared Sullinger (18.0 PPG, 10.3 RPG) finished with his second straight and 11th double-double of the season with 18 points and 13 rebounds. And after a couple of subpar games against Northwestern and Michigan (combined 4-for-11 shooting, 15 points), David Lighty (12.5 PPG, 40.7% three-pointers) bounced back versus the Golden Gophers with 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Second-leading scorer William Buford (13.6 PPG, 44.3% three-pointers) chipped in with 15 points, four boards, four assists and two steals. Buford is the team's top scorer against Wisconsin, averaging 9.3 PPG over four career matchups.
Wisconsin has won three straight contests and six of its past seven and is coming off a 62-59 overtime victory at Iowa on Wednesday. Jon Leuer (19.4 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 43.8% three-pointers) had 19 points and 15 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season, while Jordan Taylor (17.7 PPG, 4.7 APG, 4.4 RPG, 40.9% three-pointers) added 16 points, eight assists and four boards, despite shooting 6-of-18 from the field. In Big Ten games, Taylor (20.3 PPG) and Leuer (18.9 PPG) have combined to average a conference-best 39.2 PPG. Leuer is averaging 22.5 PPG in his past four home games, while Jordan Taylor is averaging 22.8 PPG, 4.7 RPG and 4.8 APG in six Big Ten home contests. The Badgers shot just 35.3% (24-of-68), including 18% in the first half versus the Hawkeyes. But Wisconsin, which allows a Big Ten-best 56.1 PPG (second in the nation), held Iowa to 41.7% shooting (25-of-60) for the game. It has limited 15 of 23 opponents to 60 points or less this season, including each of the last six foes.
The Badgers have won 34 of its past 35 games at the Kohl Center, including 16 straight contests. They've won their 13 home games this season by an average of 20.4 PPG and are scoring 75.8 PPG at home, while holding opponents to 55.4 PPG. Ohio State leads the all-time series with Wisconsin, 81-64, but the Badgers hold a 42-27 advantage in games played in Madison. Wisconsin has won eight straight home games versus OSU, including a 65-43 rout last season, but the Buckeyes have won two of the past three overall meetings.
