In a matchup that features two programs that are nationally ranked in the Top 15, the No. 3 Buckeyes (-14) are set to welcome their conference foe No. 13 Wisconsin Badgers to Ohio State. The critical daytime game is scheduled to kick off at 12:00 p.m. ET and FOX has the TV rights.
Betting Preview: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Wisconsin Badgers
In this Saturday Big Ten game, Ohio State is tabbed as the heavy favorite and the team’s currently giving up 14 points. The Badgers are also receiving +500 moneyline odds while the Buckeyes are -735. There could be some good in-game betting possibilities during the match, and oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 49.5 points.
The total has yet to move after being initially posted at 49.5. Having said that, the opening line was -13 and the sharp action is siding with the Buckeyes.
Each team has posted a positive return this season as the Badgers have gained 3.0 units while the Buckeyes are up 4.0 units.
The undefeated Badgers have gone 6-1 straight up (SU), including 3-1 SU against conference opponents. The Buckeyes are 7-0 SU overall and 4-0 SU in conference play.
The Badgers dropped one to Illinois 24-23 in a nailbiter where Jack Coan completed 24-of-32 passes for 264 yards, as well as one TD and an interception. Jonathan Taylor (132 yards on 28 rush attempts, one TD) led the ground attack in the loss while Groshek (six receptions, 40 yards) and Danny Davis III (five catches, 38 yards) manned the receiving duties.
Ohio State just put together a 52-3 win over Northwestern. The defense allowed the Wildcats to run for 157 yards on 47 rush attempts. Isaiah Bowser was a bright spot in the defeat for Northwestern, posting 65 rushing yards on 16 attempts. For Ohio State, Justin Fields completed 18-of-23 passes for 194 yards and four touchdowns. J.K. Dobbins (121 yards on 18 rush attempts, one TD) and Master Teague III (96 yards on seven carries, one TD) handled the ground game in the win as Chris Olave (five receptions, 60 yards, two TDs) and Austin Mack (four catches, 50 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching attack.
When glancing at offensive play-calling, each of these squads sports a similar run-pass ratio on the season. Wisconsin’s run the ball on 64.5 percent of its offensive possessions while Ohio State has a rush percentage of 63.1. The Badgers have produced 235.4 rush yards per game (including 216.8 per game versus Big Ten opponents) and have 24 scores via handoffs this year. The Buckeyes are putting up 287.1 rushing yards per game (319 in conference) and have 20 total rush TDs.
The Badgers offense has logged 208.3 yards/game in the air overall (171.3 per game against conference opposition) and has nine passing TDs so far. The Buckeyes have produced 239.6 pass yards per game (208 in the Big 10) and have 26 total pass scores.
Wisconsin has let opponents rush for an average of 58.4 yards and pass for 135.4 yards per game. The Ohio State defense has given up 136.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 92.7 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, as the Badgers have given up an ANY/A of 2.08 to opposing QBs, while the Buckeyes are allowing an ANY/A of 1.71.
Fields has been more efficient than Coan lately. The Buckeyes man under center has an adjusted net yards per pass attempt 10.99 for the year and 8.60 across his last two outings while Coan’s ANY/A is 7.91 (and 7.50 over the past two games).
These two Big 10 foes did not get a chance to face each other last season.
Wisconsin Badgers at Ohio State Buckeyes NCAA Pick
SU Winner: Ohio State, ATS Winner: Ohio State, O/U: Under
Betting Trends
- The Ohio State defense has sacked opposing QBs 29 times this year. Wisconsin has recorded 27 sacks.
- The Ohio State offense has lost five fumbles in 2019 while the Wisconsin offense has let six get away.
- The Badgers offense has registered one pass play of 40+ yards, while the Buckeyes have accounted for three such plays.
- Both defenses have allowed two pass plays of 40 or more yards. The Wisconsin defense has given up four pass plays of 30+ yards while Ohio State has given up three such plays.
- The Wisconsin offense has created 13 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Ohio State has created 20 such runs.
- The Badgers defense has allowed six rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Buckeyes have given up five such runs.
- The O/U for Ohio State’s last match was set at 49.5. The over cashed in the team’s 52-3 win over Northwestern.
- Over its last three contests, Ohio State is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- In its last three contests, Wisconsin is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
- The Over/Under for Wisconsin’s last game was 52. The under cashed in the team’s 24-23 defeat to Illinois.
- Wisconsin has produced 5.0 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.2 over its last two.
- Ohio State has averaged 7.0 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 7.0 over its past two.
