Ohio State Favored by Two Touchdowns at Wisconsin, Look to Win 7th Straight ATS
- #3 Ohio State (7-0) hosts #13 Wisconsin (6-1) on Saturday, Oct. 26
- Wisconsin lost 24-23 to Illinois last week despite 132 yards rushing and 1 td from star RB Jonathan Taylor
- Buckeyes QB Justin Fields is in Heisman contention thanks to 30 touchdowns and only 1 turnover this year
The #3 ranked team in the country, Ohio State, faces its biggest challenge of the season in Week 9 when #13 Wisconsin visits the Horseshoe (Sat. Oct, 26th, 12:00 PM ET). Will the Buckeyes run their record to 8-0 or will the Badgers rebound from their shocking loss to Illinois last week?
#13 Wisconsin vs #3 Ohio State Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| #13 Wisconsin | +14.5 (-115) | +430 | O 50.0 (-115) |
| #3 Ohio State | -14.5 (-105) | -660 | U 50.0 (-105) |
Odds as of Oct. 22.
The Ohio State vs Wisconsin odds may be slightly higher than expected thanks to the Badgers getting upset last Saturday, but it’s not a number that I’m going to shy away from. Ohio State has an elite defense that has a chance to shut down Wisconsin, but it’s two other reasons that have me ready to bet them confidently.
My latest CFP rankings after Week 8:
1. Ohio State
2. LSU
3. Alabama
4. Clemson
5. Oklahoma
6. Penn StateAnd yours?
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) October 20, 2019
Justin Fields Continues to Make Heisman Trophy Case
Justin Fields has been everything Buckeyes fans had hoped and more since transferring from Georgia. He is putting up video-game numbers in head coach Ryan Day’s offense, which ranks third in the country in scoring at 49.7 points per game.
Fields has 22 passing touchdowns and eight more on the ground and he’s done it while turning the ball over just once.
Justin Fields is special. pic.twitter.com/qoibrt0nVu
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 19, 2019
He has found chemistry with a deep receiving group that includes seven different players with multiple touchdowns catches. Binjimen Victor, Chris Olave, K.J. Hill and Austin Mack all have over 200 receiving yards and should play a big role against Wisconsin. Fields likes to spread the ball around, taking advantage when opposing defenses try to stack the box against star RB J.K. Dobbins.
Ohio State Has Been Dominant ATS
The Buckeyes aren’t only winning football games, they are crushing opponents. After failing to cover the spread in their season opener against FAU, Ohio State has covered in six straight games.
Ohio State’s Last Six Games
| Opponent | Result | Spread | Margin of Cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | W 42-0 | -16.5 | 22.5 |
| Indiana | W 51-10 | -19.5 | 21.5 |
| Miami (OH) | W 76-5 | -39.0 | 30.0 |
| Nebraska | W 48-7 | -17.0 | 24.0 |
| Michigan State | W 34-10 | -20.5 | 3.5 |
| Northwestern | W 52-3 | -27.5 | 21.5 |
More impressive than the run itself is how convincingly they’ve won the games – they have covered the spread by an average of 21 points, and that’s with the smallest spread being 16.5 points. Outside of the Michigan State game where the result of your wager would have been up in the air late, every other game has been sweat-free.
Wisconsin is the best opponent Ohio State has played this season, but they do have another important victory on the schedule that can be used as a measuring stick. Cincinnati is now ranked 18th and has only one loss on the year, the 42-0 drubbing they suffered at Ohio Stadium.
Bet the Buckeyes to Cover
Wisconsin is reeling after last week’s loss and, even though you could pin the poor performance on the look-ahead spot, it’s still a fact they lost to an Illinois team that had lost four straight coming in, including at home to Eastern Michigan. RB Jonathan Taylor is an electric talent but against the elite defensive front that includes DE Chase Young, he could get shut down in this one.
Ohio State has too much on both sides of the ball and I’m happy to bet on them to continue their ATS streak.
PICK: Ohio State -14.5 (-105)
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Ryan has been working at TSN for over eleven years, and is now a lead writer and content producer at That's Hockey. Over the years, he's launched and hosted TSN's first NCAAF podcast, The College Football Show, and been featured on the likes of TSN 1050, Sportscentre, and That's Hockey 2Nite.
