Ohio State vs. Wisconsin Prediction and Odds: Can Badgers Avoid a Buckeyes Sweep?

A Big Ten rivalry is rekindled Thursday night when the No. 16 Ohio State Buckeyes and No. 13 Wisconsin Badgers battle at the Kohl Center. This game features two of the current frontrunners for player of the year in E.J. Liddell and Johnny Davis. 

For the  Badgers, Davis is averaging 22 points per game and is a big reason why Wisconsin is currently 13-2 overall and 4-1 in the Big Ten. As of this writing, over at WynnBET, Davis is the favorite to win the Naismith College Player of the Year Award at +500 while Liddell is seventh at +1000. The Badgers are 7-1 at home; hungry for revenge after getting beat up by the Buckeyes earlier in the season 73-55.

Here are the odds for this Big Ten matchup, courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook.

Ohio State vs. Wisconsin Odds, Spread, and Total

Spread:

• Ohio State +3.5 (-110)
• Wisconsin -3.5 (-110)

Moneyline:

• Ohio State +145
• Wisconsin -170

Total: 140 (Over -115/Under -105)

Ohio State vs. Wisconsin Prediction and Pick

The last time these two teams played each other was a perfect example of why Wisconsin has a relatively low ceiling for a ranked team. Ohio State dominated the glass and out-rebounded Wisconsin 49-28 when all was said and done. Davis had 24 points but had very little help with only one other player scoring in double digits. Nobody else scored more than seven.  

While Liddell is the team leader at Ohio State, the Buckeyes have a solid roster around him to help pitch in. The Badgers don't, and Davis is kind of a one-man show in Wisconsin. While he is good enough that the strategy is working for them, I worry that it won’t be enough against other ranked teams.

Instead, I believe Brad Davidson is the key to victory for Wisconsin in this game. He is the second-highest scorer on the team with 14.5 PPG and has been heating up lately. In Davidson’s last three games he has scored a combined 44 points. This has to continue as the rest of the Badgers offense is very inefficient from the field.  

While the Buckeyes are a team that relies heavily on one player as well, the rest of their offense is a bit better overall. They are dangerous from deep with a three-point shooting percentage of 39.2 and can bang down low too. OSU has also proven to be able to out-rebond Wisconsin also play above-average defense.

As a more well-rounded team, I feel good about the Buckeyes in this spot. They have already beaten Wisconsin handily once this season and I am not confident they have adjusted enough to avoid another loss. 

Pick: Ohio State +145 to win