Ohio St Buckeyes at Wisconsin Badgers, Kohl Center, Madison, WI
Saturday, February 12, 2011, 2:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN
Opening Line: Pick
Current line: Wisconsin -1 1/2
Opening Total: 122
Current Total: 122 1/2
Money Line: Wisconsin -125 / Ohio St +105

Though Ohio St is off to the program’s best start since they went 27-0 in 1961 before losing the national championship game, history is not on their side. Ohio St is 24-0 overall and 11-0 in the Big Ten as they travel to Madison to take on the 18-5, 8-3 Wisconsin Badgers. Ohio St is ranked #1 in both pols and Wisconsin is ranked #14.  The Buckeyes haven’t won in Madison since 2000. Wisconsin is almost unbeatable at home regardless of the opponent. Under Coach Bo Ryan, the Badgers are an amazing 149-11 straight up at home, including 13-0 this season. Ohio St has wins at Florida, at Florida St, South Carolina, Indiana, Iowa twice, Minnesota twice, Michigan twice, Penn St, at Illinois, Purdue, and at Northwestern. Ohio St won at Minnesota 82-69 on Sunday in the Buckeyes’ last game. Though the Kohl Center is a very difficult  place to win for the road team, Ohio St already has road wins in some very tough places this season, such as Gainesville, Tallahassee, Minneapolis, Bloomington, Ann Arbor, and Champaign. Wisconsin has losses to UNLV, Notre Dame, Illinois, Michigan St, and Penn St. They are 6-2 in their last 8 games, including a 3 game winning streak currently. Wisconsin escaped with a 62-59 overtime victory at Iowa Wednesday night. The Badgers have wins over Boston College, NC State, Marquette, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Northwestern, Purdue and Michigan St.

Ohio St leads the all-time series between the schools 81-64, but Wisconsin is 42-27 in Madison. Though the teams have split the last 4 meetings, Ohio St -3-1 ATS in those games, and all 4 have gone under the total. Ohio St won the last meeting in Columbus last season 60-51. Wisconsin is 17-7 ATS at home the last 2 seasons, including 6-0 ATS versus teams scoring 77 points or more a game. Ohio St is 15-6 ATS after scoring 80 points or more the previous game the last 2 seasons.

Ohio St has no significant injuries right now. The Buckeyes have four players averaging double digit scoring. Freshman Forward Jared Sullinger is averaging 18 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1 steal a game. He leads the team in scoring and rebounding with a double-double average. Guard William Buford averages 13.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists a game. Guard/forward David Lighty averages 12.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.6 steals a game. Guard Jon Diebler averages 11.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.2 steals a game. Aaron Craft leads the team in assists with 4.6 a game and steals with 1.7 a game. Dallas Lauderdale leads the team in blocks with 1.8 a game. Ohio St is outscoring opponents 78-58 on the season. The Buckeyes shoot 49.6% from the field and 40.4% from 3-point range. Buckeye opponents are shooting 41.5% from the field. The Buckeyes shoot 68.5% from the free throw line. The Buckeyes average 35.3 rebounds, and have a rebounding margin of +5.2. Ohio St averages 16.9 assists, and 10.8 turnovers a game. They force 16.5 turnovers a game on defense. The Buckeyes average 7.5 steals and 3.5 blocks a game.

Wisconsin has no significant injuries right now. Senior Forward Jon Leuer leads the team. Leuer is averaging 19.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.2 blocks a game. He leads the team in scoring and rebounding. Leuer is shooting 43.8% from 3-point range and 85.7% from the free throw line. Guard Jordan Taylor averages 17.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists to lead the team, and 0.8 steals a game to lead the team. Forward Keaton Nankivil averages 9.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks a game to lead the team. All three of the top scorers shoot more than 40% from 3-point range. Wisconsin is outscoring opponents 70-56 on the season. The Badgers shoot 44.6% from the field and 37.7% from 3-point range. Badger opponents are shooting 40.8% from the field. The Badgers make 82.9% of their free throws. Wisconsin averages 32.8 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of +3.8. Wisconsin averages 14.1 assists and 7.8 turnovers a game. The Badgers force 10.5 turnovers a game on defense. The Badgers average 3.8 steals and 3.6 blocks a game.

Buckeye and Badger fans will remember that Ohio St’s football team was undefeated and ranked #1 as they traveled to Wisconsin for an October game. The Badgers won that day and ended Ohio St’s dreams of an undefeated season and kept them from playing for a national championship. Badger fans home they can end the Buckeye’s undefeated season tonight as well. Ohio St is trying to become the first school to go through an entire season undefeated since Indiana in 1976. But they can’t focus on that goal, as they still have 7 games left in the regular season plus the Big Ten Tournament. both of these teams are led by superstars who are on the Naismith award semi-final list for player of the year. Both of these teams are excellent at defense, giving up less than 60 points a game. Ohio St is a little better at rebounding, and much better at scoring. If the game is close, as I expect it to be, it could come down to free throw shooting. Wisconsin makes 82% of their free throws and Ohio St only makes 65% from the free throw line. It should be an exciting game, especially if you enjoy hard-nosed defense.

Our college basketball handicappers are red hot in 2011. Don’t miss out on any more winners this season.