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Ohio State at Wisconsin

The top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes face their stiffest challenge of the season Saturday when they travel to face the No. 13 Wisconsin Badgers. The Buckeyes are off to their best start in 50 years and have a shot to be the first team in 35 years to go through an entire season unbeaten. To have a chance, they must first try and win at the Kohl Center for the first time since 2000. They have lost eight straight games there and odds makers give the home team a slight edge as a result. The line for this game show us a spread of Wisconsin -1.5 over Ohio State and a total set of 122.5 points.

Ohio State (24-0, 11-0) has been a unanimous selection for the top spot in the AP poll two weeks in a row. It’s their best start since going 27-0 in the 1960-61 season where they would eventually lose to Cincinnati in the championship. Going unbeaten is unheard of these days, and it hasn’t happened since Bob Knight’s Indiana Hoosiers did it all the way back in 1975-76. The Buckeyes are coming off an 82-69 win at then-No. 18 Minnesota on Sunday. That victory gave Ohio State their 12th straight conference road win dating back to last season.

The Buckeyes have a National and Big Ten Player of the Year candidate in freshman Jared Sullinger leading the way. He leads the team in points (18.0) and rebounds (10.3) per game. Ohio State will need him at his best Saturday if they are to avoid losing a ninth straight game at the Kohl Center. David Lighty, William Buford and Jon Diebler are all scoring in double-figures for the Buckeyes as well. The depth on this team is a big reason why the Buckeyes lead the Big Ten in scoring at 77.8 points per game.

Wisconsin (18-5, 8-3) certainly has what it takes to knock off the Buckeyes Saturday. The Badgers lead the Big Ten in scoring defense at 56.3 points per game, so this is a match-up of strength versus strength and something has to give. Wisconsin may have been overlooking Iowa last time out, but managed to escape with a 62-59 overtime victory on Wednesday despite shooting just 18.2 percent in the first half. Jon Leuer scored 19 points and grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds, while Jordan Taylor added 16 points and eight assists. The win was their sixth in seven games.

Taylor and Leuer are the sole reasons the Badgers are competing for a conference title this year. They are the only two players on the team who are averaging in double-figures. Leuer is scoring 19.4 points to go along with 7.4 rebounds per game, while Taylor is scoring 17.7 points, grabbing 4.4 rebounds and dishing out 4.7 assists per contest. Wisconsin is 13-0 at the Kohl Center where they are putting up 75.8 points per game. Leuer is scoring 21.6 while Taylor is putting up 19.3 at home. The Badgers will have to overcome some bad history as well if they are to win Saturday. Wisconsin is 1-19 against No. 1 teams all-time, with their only win coming against Ohio State back in 1962.

Projected Score at BetOnline: Wisconsin 62 – Ohio State 61