Ohio State takes on another primetime test tonight.
wisconsin
badgers
The Buckeyes will play their second road night game of the season as they take on Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium for the first time since 2016. In what should be the toughest remaining game on Ohio State’s schedule before the Michigan game, the Buckeyes look to win their 10th game in a row against Wisconsin while Luke Fickell looks to lead the Badgers to a signature win against his alma mater.
As we count down the hours until the Buckeyes’ eighth game of the season, we delve into the biggest questions surrounding tonight’s game, some of the players we’ll be keeping a close eye on and the bets we’re most inclined to make on tonight’s game.
Biggest Questions
Can TreVeyon Henderson spark the running game?
Ohio State has been without TreVeyon Henderson for its last three games. OSU has also had its three lowest rushing averages of the season in those games.
That’s no coincidence, even if run blocking has been the bigger issue than running back play in OSU’s running game. Henderson’s expected return tonight won’t be a magic fix, but the return of the team’s most explosive runner should at least increase the Buckeyes’ odds of hitting a home run or two on the ground.
– Dan Hope
Will Marvin Harrison Jr. continue his Heisman campaign?
Marvelous Marv. Route Man Mav, Super Marv and now, thanks to FOX announcer Gus Johnson, Maserati Marv has been one of the best players in college football this season. After an 11-catch, 162-yard, one-touchdown performance against Penn State last weekend, Harrison reinserted his name into the conversation for the Heisman Trophy, an award whose favorites and frontrunners were all quarterbacks after seven weeks. When Ohio State faces off with Wisconsin on Saturday, the Buckeyes will undoubtedly lean on Harrison again. We will see if the Badgers can limit him, or – the more likely scenario – Harrison shines in a way only the Marvelous can.
- Chase Brown
Can the defense finally get a shutout?
Ohio State's defense has been dominant all season and is off perhaps its most dominant performance against Penn State last week. In allowing only 3.5 yards per play against the Nittany Lions, the Buckeyes looked strong at all three levels – defensive line, linebackers and secondary.
It's been a goal of the defense all season to post a shutout. Such feats are rare in the modern era of college football, but Ohio State has come close this season on a couple of occasions, allowing just one score in games against Indiana, Youngstown State and Purdue. No team has managed more than 17 points against them. With Wisconsin starting backup quarterback Braedyn Locke tomorrow, there's a chance for the Buckeyes to finally add a goose egg to their list of accomplishments this year.
- Andy Anders
Will Ohio State change its signals to keep out any spies?
OK, low-hanging fruit, but had to do it.
- Garrick Hodge
Players to Watch
Tommy Eichenberg
While Ohio State’s defense has been better, Eichenberg hasn’t made as many big plays individually this year as he did last year. Tonight would be a good night to change that as he’ll play a crucial role in the Buckeyes’ efforts to stop one of the nation’s best running backs in Braelon Allen.
– Dan Hope
Tyleik Williams
Cincinnati transfer Jake Renfro was Wisconsin’s expected starter at center before he suffered a stress fracture in his left foot in spring practices, an ailment that forced him to miss all of fall camp and the first seven games of Wisconsin’s season. Tanor Bortolini (great name) has been C1 (is this a thing?) in Renfro’s absence and has performed admirably. However, there was a reason Renfro was brought in as a transfer – Luke Fickell trusted Renfro against the Big Ten’s best. I’m not so sure Fickell trusts Bortolini in the same way, which could play out in Williams’ favor as they look to cause havoc in the middle of the defense, something he’s done all season long.
- Chase Brown
Kyle McCord
Taking the quarterback as a player to watch in any game feels like a bit of a cop-out, but this is a really important part of the season for McCord to try to round into form and approach his ceiling. He's flashed good potential while also missing the occasional throw or occasionally holding the ball too long, and it will be interesting to see if he can take another step while playing in a hostile road environment.
- Andy Anders
Dallan Hayden
During his press conference on Tuesday, Ryan Day said Ohio State would try to get Dallan Hayden into the game on Saturday. That’s interesting, especially considering TreVeyon Henderson is supposed to be a full-go. I’ll be curious to see how often he’s used – if at all – and how early he gets onto the field against Wisconsin.
- Garrick Hodge
Best Bets
Wisconsin Under 15.5 (-122, FanDuel)
Ohio State has allowed more than 14 points in only one game this year. I don’t see a team led by a backup quarterback who’s completed only 51% of his passes so far becoming the second.
– Dan Hope
Kyle McCord under 2.5 touchdowns (-114, FanDuel)
McCord has thrown three touchdowns in a game three times this season, including Ohio State’s matchups with Youngstown State, Western Kentucky and Purdue. He also threw two touchdown passes in the Buckeyes’ win over Maryland, one in the win over Penn State and zero in the wins over Indiana and Notre Dame. On Saturday under the lights in a hostile road environment, I wouldn’t expect for McCord to throw it all over the place, so I expect fewer than three scores from McCord, something that’s occurred more often than not for this year’s QB1.
- Chase Brown
Ohio State moneyline (-700, DraftKings)
Sure, the return on investment isn’t great, but it’s essentially free money.
- Garrick Hodge
Ohio State -14.5 (DraftKings)
Unlike Garrick, I am confident enough in Ohio State's advantage over Wisconsin to bet on the Buckeyes covering the spread. Particularly without Tanner Mordecai, I just don't see the Badgers hanging around that long.
- Andy Anders
