BIG 10 Championship: Wisconsin Badgers vs Ohio State Buckeyes Odds & Game Pick (2019 College Football)

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The Big Ten Championship is the last conference title game to kick off this weekend, with the 8 pm EST time slot at the home of the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Given it’s the last game in a day full of meaningful action, it will likely be one of the most heavily bet games Saturday as bettors will be looking to get their money back (or double down). One of the bigger spreads on the board among Saturday’s games, Wisconsin has its hands full in trying to stop the No. 1 overall Buckeyes and their Heisman candidate quarterback Justin Fields. In a contest that no one is expecting to be much of a game at all, let’s take a deeper look to see where we can find an edge.

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Wisconsin Badgers vs. Ohio State Buckeyes

Saturday, December 7th, 2019 – 8:00 pm EST
Ohio State -16.5, O/U 54 (via PointsBet)

Through the first six games of the season, the Badgers were on a tear like no one else in the country, winning six of six (including five ATS) and holding teams to a COMBINED 29 points over that stretch. If it were not for a loss on the road at Illinois, we could very well be talking about College Football Playoff (CFP) implications for Wisconsin in this one, instead of just the Buckeyes. Following that defeat, these two faced off in Columbus the following week, a 38-7 Buckeyes’ win that was never close. What has otherwise been a fairly lethal combination of two juniors in quarterback Jack Coan and running back Johnathan Taylor was held largely in check, accounting for a combined 160 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown on the day. While the defense gets much of the credit for this Badgers team, and rightfully so ranking in the top 10 in FBS in both points (14.6) and yards (278.8) allowed, this Wisconsin offense has been more than adequate. Led by Taylor, who has averaged 146.8 yards per game (No. 2 in FBS), this Wisconsin offense has posted 35.8 points and 443.2 yards per game of offense themselves.

A win in this one, which is highly probable given the current betting landscape, and the Buckeyes punch their ticket with the No. 1 seed in this season’s CFP. After entering the season with more questions than answers, and being picked by many to finally fall behind their conference rival Michigan, the Buckeyes have been on an absolute tear this season posting 50 points per game while allowing just 11.8, both of which rank first in the nation. The Georgia transfer Fields has proven more than capable, as he finds himself as a top-three Heisman candidate. This Ohio State defense has been led by likely top-two pick in April’s draft Chase Young and has been nasty in all facets, especially against the run. In their 12 regular-season games thus far, the Buckeyes have allowed a nation’s best 2.61 yards per rush. As they did in the first game, keeping Taylor in check will likely tell the story of this one.

Bottom Line?

If this game were played in any kind of weather conditions, I would be much more inclined to believe Wisconsin has any chance against this Buckeyes team that is one of the best we’ve seen in recent memory. The combination of Fields and stud running back J.K. Dobbins is a scary proposition any week, but especially in a game played indoors. While the total has taken off, opening at 52.5 and climbing as high as 56.5 in some spots, I like the value Ohio State over in the first half provides. In a game I expect them to go up early. I’ll take the Buckeyes to make a splash in the first half of this one.

Pick: Ohio State 1H Team Total OVER 19.5

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