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Big Ten Championship Odds & Pick: Wisconsin vs. Ohio State

Big Ten Championship Odds & Pick: Wisconsin vs. Ohio State

Written by on November 30, 2017

NCAAF News and Betting Previews| Xbet.ag
The Wisconsin Badgers are a win away from completing a perfect 13-0 regular season as they head into the Big Ten Championship against the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday afternoon. Wisconsin blanked Minnesota on the road last weekend, 31-0, to ensure that if they can beat Ohio State, they will be in the College Football Playoff with a victory. Ohio State finished Big Ten play with an 8-1 record when they went down to Michigan and secured a 31-20 victory. These two teams tangled in Madison last year, with Ohio State picking up a tough win in overtime, 30-23. Can the Badgers win this huge matchup and punch their ticket to the national semifinals? Or will Ohio State win and cause playoff chaos? Don’t lock in your NCAAF odds on this game until you’ve read our preview.

Big Ten Championship Odds & Pick: Wisconsin vs. Ohio State

When: Saturday, December 2, 2017, 8:00pm ET Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis TV: FOX Radio: Wisconsin Badger Sports Network / Ohio State IMG Sports Network Live Stream: WatchESPN Big Ten Championship Odds: Ohio State (-6.5), O/U 52

Weather Forecast

  • Clear: 5°C/41°F
  • Humidity: 81%
  • Precipitation: 4%
  • Wind: 6 mph W
  • Cloud Cover: 8%
  • Type of Stadium: N/A

Why should you bet on the Badgers?

Wisconsin has developed a reputation for putting together teams that are strong, big and physical in their play. They grind down opponents, chewing up clock and dominating the line of scrimmage. However, they run into problems when they hit a team that is too fast for them, and they lose in a battle of talent. This sort of assumption is likely behind this point spread favoring a Buckeye team that gave up 55 points to an Iowa team that Wisconsin would shut down the next week. There are a lot of observers who argue that this is what happened to the Badgers last year, when they lost to Penn State in the Big Ten Championship. However, this is a faster Badger team. Their linebackers are fast enough to shut Ohio State down sideline to sideline. Jonathan Taylor is a strong tailback, like many of his predecessors in Madison, but he has speed that other Badger backs like Corey Clement have lacked. Wide receivers Kendric Pryor, Danny Davis and A.J. Taylor can stretch the field, and they have caught passes in seven of Wisconsin’s last eight pass plays that gained at least 20 yards. Pryor also had long end-around touchdown runs against Iowa and Michigan. Quarterback Alex Hornibrook does have 12 interceptions in conference play this season — but this isn’t your usual plodding Badger team.

Why should you put your money on the Buckeyes?

Ohio State comes in with a 10-2 record, as they came back to knock off Michigan a week ago. Their losses were big ones, as they took it on the chin from Oklahoma by 15 at home and lost by 31 points at Iowa. Since they took that beating from the Hawkeyes, though, Ohio State has won their last three games by a combined 70 points. That (and the name “Urban Meyer”) are two reasons why the Buckeyes have a definite shot at a spot in the College Football Playoff if they can deliver a win on Saturday. Quarterback J.T. Barrett suffered a bizarre injury against Michigan, in a collision with a cameraman, but is expected to play against the Badgers. A healthy Barrett will give the Badgers a challenge. On defense, Ohio State has been solid all year long, permitting just 19.8 points per game (#21 among FBS programs) and just 291.8 yards of offense per game (#8). If the Badgers stumble on offense, or if Hornibrook has another interception or two, Ohio State could seize momentum and make things tough for Wisconsin.

Latest Big Ten Championship Betting Trends

  • Ohio State is 1-4 ATS in the last 5 games
  • Ohio State is 9-1 SU in the last 10 games
  • The total went OVER in 8 of Ohio State’s last 9 games
  • Wisconsin is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 games
  • Wisconsin is 5-0 SU in the last 5 games
  • The total went OVER in 4 of Wisconsin’s last 6 games when playing Ohio State

Expert Pick and Final Prediction

Ohio State will come into this game highly motivated by the chance of a trip to the College Football Playoff — especially after taking that embarrassing shutout in the national semifinal a year ago. However, this is a Wisconsin team that has made advances, particularly in the speed game, over where they were a year ago. I see the Badgers winning, 27-23.
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