Wisconsin-Ohio State Spread at -7 in Favor of Badgers
The Wisconsin-Ohio State spread was listed at -7 in favor of the 6-1 Badgers after this line opened at -7.5. They will face off against a Buckeyes team that is 4-3.
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Wisconsin -7 & 51.5
Opening Line & Total: Badgers -7.5 & 51
After seeing its unbeaten season disappear with a Hail Mary loss at Michigan State, No. 12 Wisconsin tries to bounce back with another tough road game, at well-rested Ohio State coming off a bye.
The Badgers are scoring 47.4 PPG (5th in nation), and had been allowing 9.7 PPG (3rd in nation) before MSU hung 37 against them. The Buckeyes won their last game at Illinois thanks to 114 rushing yards from Dan Herron making his season debut after being suspended for six games. The Badgers have won three of the past five meetings in Columbus and also beat OSU 31-18 last year in Madison. Although Ohio State has been the best bet in BCS conference play since 2006 (29-13 ATS, 69%), Wisconsin had covered eight straight Big Ten games before its loss to MSU. The Badgers have the personnel to limit OSU’s ground game and force the Buckeyes to throw with their pathetic passing game.
QB Russell Wilson threw two costly interceptions in last week’s loss, but he hasn’t made many other mistakes this year, ranking second in the nation in passing efficiency (16 TD, 3 INT). RB Montee Ball is 15th in the nation with 110 rushing YPG and he has been even more dominant in Big Ten play, rumbling for 408 yards (6.6 YPC) and 8 TD in three conference games. Ball did not play against OSU last year, but James White did, gaining 75 rushing yards and a touchdown in the 31-18 win. White is averaging 5.7 YPC this season with four touchdowns. WR Nick Toon leads the team with 505 receiving yards and 6 TD, and his 72 receiving yards against the Buckeyes last year was a season high for him.
Wisconsin currently ranks sixth in the nation in scoring defense (13.6 PPG) and is fourth in passing defense (166 YPG). The Badgers should have little problem stifling an OSU passing game that has been comically bad the past five games, completing 30-of-80 passes for a total of 413 yards.
Ohio State freshman Braxton Miller (26-of-51, 403 yards, 5 TD 2 INT) will likely start under center on Saturday. Miller is much more dangerous running the football, with 91 yards at Nebraska and 83 yards against Colorado. The main ball carrier will be Dan Herron, who was effective against Illinois (5.0 YPC) and also rushed for 91 yards with two touchdowns against Wisconsin last year. TE Jake Stoneburner has only 12 catches this year, but six have been for touchdowns.
Defensively, OSU has been pretty sound this season with the exception of surrendering 34 points at Nebraska. The Buckeyes rank 12th in the nation in scoring defense (16.3 PPG) and 16th in yardage (305 YPG). They have forced 11 turnovers in the past five games, but Wisconsin is veteran team that does not cough up the ball easily (5 TO in seven games).
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
