Ohio State @ Wisconsin preview
Camp Randall Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 29, 2011 ) Wisconsin 29, Ohio State 33
Despite trailing Ohio State by two games and being tied with Penn State in the Big Ten Leaders Division, Wisconsin has already secured a place in the conference’s championship game. Since the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions are both ineligible for the postseason, Wisconsin secured their place in the Dec. 1 title game in Indianapolis against the winner of the Legends Division with a 62-14 rout of Indiana last week. But just because the Buckeyes have no postseason aspirations doesn’t mean they have anything to play for in this budding rivalry, which resumes Saturday, as they would like nothing more than to remain one of the four remaining unbeaten teams in the FBS. Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema accused new Ohio State coach Urban Meyer of stealing verbally committed recruits in the off-season, which only helped to stir the pot created by the recent history of close and meaningful upsets in this series.
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC or ESPN2. LINE: Wisconsin -3
ABOUT OHIO STATE (10-0, 6-0 Big Ten): After a pair of uninspiring wins over two of the bottom three teams in their division – Purdue and Indiana – the Buckeyes have been impressive in double-digit victories at Penn State and at home against Illinois. Quarterback Braxton Miller needs only 372 total yards over his final two games to break Bobby Hoying’s school record of 3,290 yards set in 1995. Ohio State’s defense is tied for the conference lead with 13 interceptions, which has complemented the highest-scoring offense in the Big Ten.
ABOUT WISCONSIN (7-3, 4-2): The Badgers claimed their second straight berth in the Big Ten Championship game last week thanks in large part to a school-record 564 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Running back Montee Ball, who rushed for 198 yards, scored three times and has 77 touchdowns for his career, one shy of the NCAA record set by Travis Prentice of Miami (Ohio). Wisconsin piled up 64 carries against the Hoosiers and attempted only seven passes in its first game since quarterback Joel Stave suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Ohio State owns a 54-17-5 advantage all-time in the series, although the Buckeyes’ lead is only 6-5 since 1999.
2. This game features two top 20 rushing offenses (Ohio State, eighth; Wisconsin, 17th) against two top 20 rush defenses (Wisconsin, 13th; Ohio State, 16th).
3. Meyer is 32-2 in the game after a week off over the course of his career.
PREDICTION: Ohio State 31, Wisconsin 20