Game Analysis:

Week 9 of the college football season brings us one of the better big ten rivalries, as the 3rd ranked Ohio State Buckeyes travel to Madison to take on the Wisconsin Badgers. Ohio State remains undefeated at 7-0, and is coming off their biggest win of the year last week, a 20-12 win over 7th ranked Penn State. Wisconsin on the other hand, is sitting at 5-2, and are coming off a bounceback win at Illinois after dropping a home game to Iowa the week prior. The Badgers are looking to pull off their biggest win of head coach Luke Fickell’s first season, and catapult themselves back into the AP poll.

Ohio State had arguably their biggest test last week when they hosted Penn State, but they passed with flying colors as the Nittany Lions were completely shut down all game, registering just one touchdown in garbage time. The Buckeyes defense was easily the biggest reason for this win, holding explosive Penn State QB Drew Allar to an under 50% completion percentage, as well as under 200 passing yards. However, their own QB Kyle McCord did enough to help the Buckeyes pull away, going 22/35 with 286 yards and a touchdown. The running game couldn’t get anything going against a very stout Penn State defense, but all-american WR Marvin Harrison Jr was able to make up for that, hauling in 11 receptions for 162 yards and a score. Ohio State will need to keep relying on the McCord-Harrison Jr connection as well as their defense, as they’ve struggled to run the ball this year.

On the other side, the hosting Badgers are coming off an emotional comeback victory at Illinois in which they trailed 21-7 after 3 quarters, but were able to come all the way back and take the lead on a 3 yard TD reception by offensive lineman Nolan Rucci with 27 seconds left. They would hold on to win 25-21. This was a massive victory to not only salvage their record at 5-2, but also since the Badgers were coming off a painful 15-6 home loss to Iowa the previous week. In the win at Illinois, QB Braedyn Locke had a decent game with 240 passing yards, and 2 touchdowns with no interceptions. RB Braelon Allen was a workhorse and led the way for the offense as usual, picking up 145 rushing yards and a touchdown on 29 carries. The Badgers defense meanwhile, held Illinois to just 100 passing yards. However, they are taking on a different animal this week, and with the way the Badgers have been playing lately, I just don’t think they will be able to hang with an elite Buckeyes team. Give me the Buckeyes easily in this one.