Wisconsin lost a tough game to Iowa two weeks ago and lost control of its destiny to win the Big 10 West. The Badgers got a big favor with Iowa being upset by Minnesota last week, and now the Badgers hold a one-game lead in the West.
Still, winning the West will be challenging for Wisconsin. That is because the Ohio State Buckeyes are coming to town on Saturday for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on NBC in what should be an incredible environment at Camp Randall Stadium. Let’s look at the Ohio State vs. Wisconsin odds, props and predictions ahead of this Big Ten matchup.
Unlike their rival Michigan, Ohio State has not played an easy schedule; in fact, the Buckeyes have played one of the most demanding schedules of any top team in the country. While Ohio State has had a few close calls, and Buckeye fans have questioned quarterback Kyle McCord at every opportunity, Ohio State remains undefeated.
The Buckeye defense has been one of the best in the Ryan Day era, and the offense is getting better each game. Wisconsin, on the other hand, has been shaky, at least to their standard, in Luke Fickell’s first year as head coach.
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin betting odds: CFB Week 9 point spread, moneyline, total
With lots of wagers coming in on this prime-time Big Ten matchup, check out the live odds at top U.S. sportsbooks to stay informed before you place any bets.
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Ohio State betting news: McCord coming into his own
Ohio State was projected to be one of the best teams in college football this season, and they have answered the bell. The Buckeyes have dominated almost every opponent, with only two margins of victory under 10 points — both against top-10 opponents.
The Buckeyes’ impressive late fourth-quarter drive for a touchdown against Notre Dame in Week 4 of the college football season was as impressive as any drive by any team in the country this year. That drive all but cemented Kyle McCord as the Buckeyes starting quarterback.
The Notre Dame game was statistically McCord’s worst game of the season, but engineering the game-winning drive and scoring with only seconds left on the clock has given McCord the confidence to play without having to look over his shoulder. The junior quarterback has played excellent ever since, including last week’s 286 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in a statement win over Penn State.
Wisconsin betting news: Badgers need a fast start
The Badgers have a ton of talent and can win this game against the Buckeyes. While a tall task, it is not an insurmountable one for Wisconsin. One thing is sure, though, the Badgers can’t wait to start playing good football until the second half like they did against Illinois last week.
It will take a full four-quarter performance from Wisconsin to beat the Buckeyes. With Tanner Mordecai still injured, freshman quarterback Braedyn Locke will get the biggest start of his young career on Saturday. Locke struggled to come in for the injured Mordecai against Iowa. Locke also did not look great against Illinois in the first half last week.
Give credit to the young quarterback who started to find his footing and led the Badgers back from down 21-7 to a 25-21 win. His touchdown pass with under a minute left completed the comeback, and the clutch play by Locke proved that even with the early struggles, he has all the tools to be an excellent college quarterback.
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin props
If you are looking to put a little action in on the Ohio State vs. Wisconsin game on Saturday, make sure you check on these awesome game props courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
Moneyline / Total Points Double
- Ohio State to win & over 44.5 points (+125)
- Ohio State to win & under 44.5 points (+110)
- Wisconsin to win & over 44.5 points (+1300)
- Wisconsin to win & under 44.5 points (+1000)
1st quarter odds
- Ohio State -3.5 (-106) vs. Wisconsin +3.5 (-120)
- 9.5 points over (-118) / under (-108)
- Moneyline: Ohio State (-265) vs. Wisconsin (+200)
1st half odds
- Ohio State -7.5 (-108) vs. Wisconsin +7.5 (-112)
- 22.5 points over (-114) / under (-106)
- Moneyline: Ohio State (-420) vs. Wisconsin (+310)
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin prediction: Buckeyes continue run to College Football Playoff
Expect this game to be a classic Big Ten battle, and chances are the first half will be low-scoring as Wisconsin’s defense will do all it can to keep the Badgers in the game. Ohio State will need to handle the environment of a night game at Camp Randall, which is one of the best in college football.
Ohio State is due for a letdown game, and the Buckeyes have been susceptible to that in past seasons. But poor defense has let the Buckeyes down in the past, and OSU has one of the better defenses in all of college football.
With Wisconsin starting a freshman quarterback in place of their injured starter, the Buckeyes defense is salivating at the thought of getting after the Badgers. Put that together with an Ohio State offense that has been getting better every week, and it will be too much for Wisconsin to handle.