Wisconsin vs. Ohio State betting odds, Big Ten championship pick
Ohio State must overcome the injury to J.T. Barrett to win the Big Ten title against Wisconsin.
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
The Ohio State Buckeyes are 6-1 SU and ATS over their last seven games against the Wisconsin Badgers.
The Buckeyes will be down to their third-string quarterback in this year’s game against their conference rival.
Ohio State is a 4-point underdog against the Badgers, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. Wisconsin’s running game and strong play as of late should help put the Badgers over the top against an Ohio State team that may struggle to find its offense.
OddsShark Computer Prediction: Ohio State 35.5, Wisconsin 28.4
A double-digit win over rival Michigan to improve to 11-1 SU and a Mississippi State loss to open up a spot in the Top 4 should have been the perfect recipe for celebration for Ohio State. Instead, the Buckeyes were in a somber mood as starting quarterback J.T. Barrett was lost for the remainder of the season with an ankle injury.
Inexperienced redshirt sophomore Cardale Jones takes over at quarterback for the Buckeyes, who are 0-3 ATS over their last three games.
Wisconsin and Ohio State meet at 8:17 p.m. ET Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Since suffering a surprising road loss to Northwestern Oct. 4, the Badgers have strung together seven straight wins with a 4-2 ATS record over their last six. Melvin Gordon has been one of the best offensive weapons in the game this season with a staggering 2,260 rushing yards and 26 rushing touchdowns.
A big performance in a win against Ohio State this week would put him very firmly in the Heisman Trophy discussion. Wisconsin is 10-2 SU this season but just 5-7 ATS.
The total has gone UNDER in eight of the last 12 meetings between these two teams, according to the OddsShark College Football Database, and that trend could continue with Ohio State starting its backup quarterback. Jones is a talented quarterback, and the Buckeyes’ defense and running game will make them difficult to beat Saturday.
But Wisconsin has a complete team and a strong enough defense to make life difficult for the inexperienced starter, especially if the Badgers get an early lead. As a 4-point favorite, look for Wisconsin to spoil Ohio State’s playoff hopes.
