Defense meets offense when the University of Wisconsin Badgers (2-1, 0-0 Away) are on the road to face the No. 3 The Ohio State University Buckeyes (3-0, 3-0 Home) for a Big Ten Conference opener at Ohio Stadium on Saturday. The Buckeyes are 18.5-point favorites, and the total is 57. Wisconsin is coming off an impressive 66-7 win over New Mexico State at Camp Randall Stadium last Saturday. Graham Mertz threw for 251 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Braelon Allen ran 15 times for 86 yards and three touchdowns. Skyler Bell caught four passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Ohio State beat Toledo 77-21 at Ohio Stadium last Saturday. C.J. Stroud was 22 of 27 for 482 yards and five touchdowns. Dallan Hayden carried 17 times for 108 yards and a touchdown. Emeka Egbuka also scored once. He hauled in seven receptions for 116 yards.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The teams are meeting in the regular season for the first time since October 2019, a 38-7 win for the Buckeyes, their third straight win against Wisconsin.
TALE OF THE TAPE
The Badgers are averaging 39.3 points per game so far this season, 32nd in FBS, and they are facing a Buckeyes defense that has surrendered 14.3 PPG (24th). Meanwhile, Ohio State has scored 47.7 points a game this season, 10th in the nation, and Wisconsin is allowing 8.0 PPG (8th).The Badgers rank 47th in the nation in passing yards per game (260.3) and 27th in rushing (218.3), while the Buckeyes are 42nd in passing yards allowed per game (194.3) and 24th against the run (84.3).Ohio State has been one of the country’s top passing teams, averaging 358.3 passing yards per game (6th), while ranking 35th in rushing yards (207.0). Wisconsin’s defense has been equally impressive through the air, as the Badgers are 20th in the nation in passing yards allowed per game (170.0). Against the run, the Badgers are 13th (76.0).
TOP PERFORMERS
Through three games, Mertz has thrown for six touchdowns (2 INT) and 232.3 yards per game to lead Wisconsin in passing. Allen leads the team in rushing with an average of 110.7 yards a game over three games. He has five touchdowns on the ground. Chimere Dike is the Badgers’ leading receiver with 57.3 yards a game and one TD. Stroud has 11 passing touchdowns with 313.7 yards per game through three games to lead Ohio State. In three home games this season, he has thrown for 11 TDs and an average of 313.7 yards. Miyan Williams has been the home team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 69.0 yards a game through three games. He has one touchdown. Marvin Harrison Jr. has been a workhorse in the Buckeyes’ passing game. He has five touchdowns and a 114.0 yard per game average through three appearances.
SportsTips’ College Football Pick:
Ohio State (-1000)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
