Big Ten Championship 2014: Wisconsin vs. Ohio State Odds, Schedule, Prediction

The 2014 Big Ten Championship Game features two teams that have been very impressive over the final stretch of the regular season. Wisconsin will represent the West in the title game after strong performances against Nebraska and Minnesota. Ohio State took care of business against Michigan State and Minnesota en route to winning the East.

These are two teams very capable of doing some serious damage against ranked opponents, and now they'll face each other for the first time since the Buckeyes took down the Badgers 31-24 on September 28, 2013. Needless to say, both teams are vastly different since that meeting.

Here's a look at the tale of the tape, via ESPN College Football:

So, here's the burning question: Which team has a better shot at the Big Ten title in a neutral location? Before Wisconsin and Ohio State return to the amateur gridiron, here's a look at all of the game's essential viewing information, followed by a prediction for the highly anticipated contest.

Viewing Information

When: Saturday, December 6

Where: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana

Time: 8:17 p.m. ET

Channel: Fox

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

Game Odds (via Odds Shark): Wisconsin -4

Preview and Prediction

Jay LaPrete/Associated Press

The Badgers will have a very simple game plan entering this contest: Give the football to running back Melvin Gordon early and often. The junior ball-carrier has been virtually unstoppable this season, averaging 8.0 yards per carry while rushing for 2,260 yards and 26 touchdowns.

After a 151-yard performance Saturday against Minnesota, Gordon surpassed Ron Dayne for the most single-season rushing yards in Big Ten history, according to College GameDay:

Ohio State has been decent against the run this season, ranking 40th in the nation, but the Buckeyes are allowing an average of 4.03 yards per carry and have given up a total of 21 touchdowns on the ground. They'll need to tighten up that area of the game in a hurry or risk getting burned by Gordon.

While the Buckeyes handily defeated Michigan 42-28 in Week 14, it came at a significant cost. Exciting freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett was lost for the season with a broken ankle. This will force third-string quarterback Cardale Jones into action for the championship game.

While Barrett's loss is huge, head coach Urban Meyer doesn't seem overly concerned, according to Tim Shoemaker of ElevenWarriors.com:

Jones may have an enormous arm, but he'll be going up against one of the nation's stingiest defenses. Wisconsin is ranked second against the pass, eighth against the run, second in total defense and fourth in scoring defense. That's not a good omen for a quarterback who's coming into the game with 19 career passing attempts.

Of course, like the Badgers, the Buckeyes should be expected to rely heavily on the run as well. Jones is a dual-threat quarterback, and he's complemented by a great running back in Ezekiel Elliott. It may be touch sledding, but Ohio State really needs to get this ground game going to have a chance for the title.

In this situation, the cards are stacked against the Buckeyes. They're about to face the nation's most dangerous running back and are starting a very inexperienced quarterback against a very good defense. Wisconsin has the advantage, and that will translate into a win.

Prediction: Wisconsin 27, Ohio State 23

All team rankings and statistics courtesy of NCAA.com and current as of November 30.