Ohio State vs. Wisconsin football game preview, prediction

What to expect as Ohio State and Wisconsin meet in this Week 9 college football game

Big Ten cross-divisional rivals meet up in what could be a preview of the conference championship game if all goes according to plan, as No. 3 ranked, undefeated Ohio State travels to Wisconsin in college football's Week 9 action on Saturday.

• Wisconsin at No. 1 in the West Division at 5-2 overall and 3-1 in B1G play
• Badgers are top 35 in rushing production nationally and 20th in scoring defense
• Braedyn Locke steps in at QB for Wisky with Tanner Mordecai injured
• Buckeyes have defeated two top-10 opponents: Notre Dame and Penn State
• OSU has won 35 straight vs. non-ranked opposition
• Ohio State is 101st nationally in rushing, but a strong 3rd nationally in scoring D allowing 10 points per game

Ohio State vs. Wisconsin preview, prediction

Ohio State vs. Wisconsin football predictions / USA Today Images

How to watch

When: Sat., Oct. 28
Time: 7:30 p.m. Eastern
TV: NBC network
Stream live: fuboTV (Try for free)

Ohio State vs. Wisconsin game odds

Courtesy of SI Sportsbook

Line: Ohio State -14.5
Total: 45.5 points
Moneyline: OSU -800 | Wisc +450
FPI pick: Ohio State 87.7% to win

What to watch for

1. Battle at the line. Braelon Allen will be tough to stop on the ground as the Badgers tailback goes against the Buckeyes' front seven. Allen is tops in the Big Ten with 100.6 rushing yards per game, while Ohio State is 18th nationally, allowing exactly as many ground yards as Allen averages on the attack. OSU is 2nd in college football allowing just 3.93 yards per play.

2. Defense. As the Buckeyes still look to build their offensive identity, the defensive side of the ball has come together remarkably well. The unit stood out in the Penn State win and is combining well-disciplined front seven play with tighter pass coverage in the secondary. Ohio State is 5th in total defense, third in scoring, and 2nd nationally in pass efficiency defense, and should have a decided edge against a Badger attack that has struggled to threaten the deeper portion of the field in the air.

3. Red zone. Ohio State's relative struggles running the football come into sharp focus when working inside the 20-yard line. While on average, it comes away with points almost 85% of the time, it's not getting in scoring range that often, only around 35% of drives ending up in the red zone, and it averages just over 4 points per possession.

Ohio State vs. Wisconsin prediction

Watch how the Badgers attack the Buckeyes' front seven early in the game on the ground. Wisconsin ran the ball 35 times in its wins and fewer than 30 in the losses. 

Ohio State should get lead rusher TreVeyon Henderson back from injury, a key development to help balance out the offense against a Wisconsin run stop that looks more beatable than usual.

Wisconsin should carve out some room to run the ball enough to keep the game close in the first half, but Locke's inability to credibly threaten the Buckeye secondary will reduce the Badgers to one dimension, and Ohio State has the receivers who can cut through the coverage and pull away in the second half.

College Football HQ picks...

• Ohio State wins 34-13
• Covers the spread
• And hits the over

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