Wisconsin Badgers at No. 9 Ohio State Buckeyes
We should find out on Saturday if the unbeaten Wisconsin Badgers are for real, because if they can go into the Horseshoe and run the ball on one of the nation’s best defenses, then they are indeed a Big Ten contender.
But oddsmakers at WagerWeb.com are skeptical, as UW is a 16-point betting underdog.
This will be all about the Badger running attack and the OSU run defense. Wisconsin ranks 14th in the nation with an average of 217.2 rushing yards. It is led by John Clay, who ran for 184 yards and three touchdowns in Wisconsin’s 31-28 win at Minnesota last Saturday. Clay, named the Big Ten offensive player of the week Monday, leads the conference with 116.4 yards per game and seven rushing touchdowns.
The Badgers lead the Big Ten in scoring offense (35.0 points per game), rushing offense (217.2 yards per game), third-down conversions (56.2), red zone efficiency (20-for-20), turnover margin (plus-5) and sacks allowed (2).
OSU gave up 18 yards rushing to Indiana last week and has held opponents to 37.7 yards on the ground in the last three games – the third-best average in the nation in that stretch.
So if the Badgers can’t run, can they rely on first-year starter Scott Tolzien? He has been shockingly good, ranking second in the Big Ten in passing efficiency. Senior TE Garrett Graham (23 catches, 268 yards, four TDs) and sophomore WR Nick Toon (22 catches, 269 yards, two TDs) are Tolzien’s top targets.
If Ohio State holds the Badgers under 21 points, it’s a Buckeye victory. OSU has held opponents to fewer than 21 points 43 times since 2006, the best among FBS teams. The Buckeyes are 41-3 in those games.
On offense, everything goes through Terrelle Pryor for OSU. But it should have back starting RB Dan Herron, who missed the Indiana game with an ankle injury.
A win Saturday would be Ohio State’s 17th straight in a conference road game, tying the record set by Michigan from 1988-92.
This has been a very close series of late. OSU has won the past two, but both teams Wisconsin had second-half leads only to blow them. Ohio State has a 7-5-1 advantage over the last 13 meetings.
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