Ohio State vs. Wisconsin Prediction, Picks & Odds: Who'll Win in College Football Week 8?
Riding a four-game losing streak, my Ohio State vs. Wisconsin prediction and picks, as part of our college football predictions for Week 8, don't expect Luke Fickell's seat to cool down on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET from Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisc., when his Badgers take on his alma mater.
With the Buckeyes heading to Madison to take on their one-time interim head coach, Ohio State is a 25-point road favorite, and my college football picks are taking Ryan Day's team to continue their title defense.
🏈 Ohio State vs. Wisconsin prediction
College football picks for Week 8; odds subject to change.
- Game prediction: Ohio State -25 (-110 via Caesars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Over/Under pick: Over 41 (-110 via Caesars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
👇️ See more SBR!
Want to make sure SBR shows up often in your Google search results and Discover feed? Simply click here and add Sportsbook Review as one of your "source preferences".
🆚 Who will win Ohio State vs. Wisconsin?
At this point, Wisconsin seems likelier to fire Luke Fickell than they are to win another game this season. The Badgers are 2-4, with both wins coming against Group of Five programs to start the season. Since then, they've lost four straight to Power Four teams by an average of 23 points. They aren't going to beat the No. 1 team in the nation magically, and I'm sure fans now wish Wisconsin had never fired Paul Chryst.
✅ Best Ohio State vs. Wisconsin bet
🌰 Ohio State -25 (-110) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
At one time, Fickell was viewed as a potential future head coach at Ohio State after he weathered the storm of tattoo gate and took the team to a bowl game as interim in 2011. Fast forward a decade and a half, and the guy who took the first Group of Five program to the College Football Playoff (Cincinnati) looks like he could be headed back to the G5 level soon.
Wisconsin has been horrendous this season, repping a 1-3 ATS record in P4 games and ranking No. 72 in SP+. While the defense has had some bright moments, it also just gave up 37 to Iowa last week and now has to slow an Ohio State offense led by two Heisman contenders in Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith.
Those two, along with Carnell Tate, have Ohio State's offense ranked No. 5 in EPA per pass and poised to push a Badgers defense that's just No. 77 in EPA per pass and allowing the fifth-highest QB rating in the Big Ten (142.5). The bigger problem, though, comes on the other side of the ball.
🚫 You've got to score to win ... and Wisconsin can't
Ohio State has arguably the best defense in the nation. Matt Patricia's unit is No. 2 in SP+, top 12 in both EPA per pass and rush, allowing the fifth-fewest yards per game (229.0), and giving up the fewest points per game in the country (6.8). It doesn't matter if Billy Edwards Jr. is healthy enough to start at QB for Wisconsin when the Buckeyes are deploying superstars like Arvell Reese, Caleb Downs, Sonny Styles, and Caden Curry.
Ohio State is 5-0-1 ATS this season, including 4-0 against P4 teams, and a disastrous Wisconsin team isn't going to be the one to cover against the defending champs. If the Buckeyes win by 26-plus points, a $10 bet pays a $9.09 profit at our best college football betting sites.
⚖️ Ohio State vs. Wisconsin score prediction: Ohio State 38-Wisconsin 10
Track the latest college football scores for line movement and matchup info.
⬆️ Over 41 (-110) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It makes sense for this game total to be so low with the Buckeyes allowing just three passing TDs and one rushing TD in six games, but my Ohio State vs. Wisconsin prediction projects Day's offense to put up enough points for this Over to cash as long as the Badgers score more than three points.
The Buckeyes' dominant defense has held two teams to fewer than four points this season, Minnesota and Grambling (FCS), and while they're more than capable of doing the same to the Badgers, I think Wisconsin could cash this Over with a garbage-time score. Ohio State is also capable of putting up more than 41 points itself, with Sayin dealing right now.
He's No. 4 in the country in QBR (86.5) and No. 1 in adjusted completion rate (84.2%), and it doesn't hurt that he's throwing to two future first-round receivers in Smith and Tate. Those three should help this Over hit, and if it does, a $10 bet pays a $9.09 profit.
📊 Ohio State vs. Wisconsin odds
Latest college football odds updated live in real time.
📺 How to watch Ohio State vs. Wisconsin
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 18
- Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
- Where: Camp Randall Stadium (Madison, Wisc.)
- TV: CBS
📃 Affiliate disclosure
Each betting site featured on SBR has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission.
Not intended for use in MA. Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.
(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
Related Articles
