Wisconsin @ Ohio State preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 16, 2010 ) Ohio State 18, Wisconsin 31

THE STORY: It looked as though things were lining up nicely for Wisconsin to not only make a run at the Big Ten championship, but at the BCS Championship Game. Things are a little less clear now. The 11th-ranked Badgers lost their undefeated season at Michigan State last week and had their secondary exposed in the process. A relatively weak schedule had Wisconsin in the top five nationally in scoring offense and defense going into last week, but the Spartans were able to throw all over the Badgers’ secondary. Luckily for Wisconsin, Ohio State hasn’t really been able to throw on anybody. The Buckeyes are suffering through their worst season in years and rank 88th in the nation in scoring offense at an average of 23.3 points. Ohio State will try to open it up a little more when it welcomes Wisconsin to Columbus.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN3.com. LINE: Wisconsin -7.

ABOUT WISCONSIN (6-1, 2-1 Big Ten Leaders Division): The Badgers lost in the most excruciating fashion last week when they came back from 14 points down to make it 31-31, only to have Michigan State win on a Hail Mary pass with no time left. The loss snapped a nine-game conference winning streak and dropped Wisconsin to No. 15 in the BCS standings. The Badgers are second behind Penn State in the Leaders Division but could still make the Big Ten championship game if they win out. Russell Wilson doubled his season total with two interceptions against the Spartans.

ABOUT OHIO STATE (4-3, 1-2): The Buckeyes have had an extra week to prepare for Wisconsin after snapping a two-game conference losing streak with a 17-7 victory at Illinois on Oct. 15. Ohio State’s big strength is on the defensive side of the ball, where it is holding opponents to a little more than 300 yards. The Buckeyes have not lost four games in a season since 2004.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Buckeyes running back Dan Herron has scored a touchdown in 13 straight games.

2. Badgers running back Montee Ball leads the nation in scoring at 16.29 points per game.

3. Wisconsin snapped a three-game losing streak in the series with a 31-18 victory last season in Madison.

PREDICTION: Wisconsin 24, Ohio State 10 - The Buckeyes don’t have the passing offense to take on the Badgers’ biggest flaw.