Written by Jeremy Dennis
Blitzalytics Gambling Guide
Wisconsin Badgers Ohio State Buckeyes
10-2 (7-2 in conference) 12-0 (9-0 in conference)
Offensive PPG (35.8) Offensive PPG (49.9)
Defensive PPG (14.6) Defensive PPG (11.8)
Offensive YPG - 443 (244 Rush, 199 Pass) Offensive YPG - 535 (281 Rush, 254 Pass)
Defensive YPG - 277 (97 Rush, 180 Pass) Defensive YPG - 232 (91 Rush, 141 Pass)
Schedule
@S. Fla. 49-0 C. Mich 61-0 Fla. Atl. 45-21 Cincy 42-0
Michigan 35-14 Nwestern 24-15 @Indiana 51-10 Mia-OH 76-5
Kent St. 48-0 Mich. St. 38-0 @Neb. 48-7 Mich St. 34-10
@ Illinois 23-24 @Ohio St. 7-38 @Nwstrn 52-3 Wisc. 38-7
Iowa 24-22 @Neb. 37-21 Mary 73-14 @Rutgers 56-21
Purdue 45-24 @Minn. 38-17 Penn St. 28-17 @Mich. 56-27
Key Players
J. Coan 72.3% 2309 yds. 17TD-4INT J. Fields 68.2% 2654 yds. 27TD-1INT
J. Taylor 279 Carries 1761 Yards 20 TDs J.K. Dobbins 250 Carries 1657 Yards 19 TDs
Q. Cephus 45 Catches 720 Yards 6 TDs C. Olave 41 Catches 705 Yards 11 TDs
Z. Baun 62 Tack. 18.5 TFL 11.5 Sacks C. Young 38 Tack. 19.5 TFL 16.5 Sacks
E. Burrell 3 INTs J. Okudah 3 INTs
Injuries
TE - Luke Benzschawel - Out OL - Joshua Alabi - Out
OL - David Moorman - Questionable OL - Gavin Cupp - Questionable
S - Scott Nelson - Out DL - Noah Donald - Out
WR - A.J. Taylor - Questionable WR - Elijah Gardiner - Out
CB - Rachad Wildgoose - Questionable DT - Haskell Garrett - Questionable
DT - Bryson Williams - Questionable TE - Cormonte Hamilton - Questionable
S - Ronnie Hickman - Out
OL - Matthew Jones - Questionable
DT - Brett Novick - Out
S - Josh Proctor - Questionable
WR - C.J. Saunders - Out
DT - Taron Vincent - Questionable
Blitzalytics Analysis
Line Ohio State (-16) Over/Under 57 Against the Spread - Wisconsin (7-5) Ohio State
(9-3)
The Big 10 Championship game is a rematch of the game that saw the Buckeyes dominate that Badgers 38-7. There are three bona fide Heisman Trophy candidates in this game in Justin Fields, Chase Young, and Jonathan Taylor. This is almost certainly a play-in game for the College Football Playoff. Ohio State is among the leaders in scoring offense, scoring defense, YPG on offense and YPG allowed. Wisconsin also has a borderline elite defense.
The Degenerate Menace Says: It is hard not to look past the previous game when making this decision. Ohio State is clearly the faster, more physical team on both sides of the ball. If we use intuition and take the 31 point margin of victory and subtract it by the standard home field advantage number of 3, we would still bet a 28 point margin which is well above the line. It probably would have a similar result even if Justin Fields were to aggravate his knee injury from the Michigan game. This is probably not going to be an interesting game to watch from a competitive standpoint.
Prediction: Ohio State 35 - Wisconsin 7