Big Ten Championship 2014: Odds, Preview, Prediction for Wisconsin vs Ohio State
Ohio State has lost a single Big Ten game since 2012, and it just so happened to come in Indianapolis at the Big Ten Championship Game last year. Safe to say, the Buckeyes have some unfinished business to take care of in the nation's heartland.
Standing in their way is the daunting rushing attack of Melvin Gordon and Wisconsin.
The Badgers are looking to solidify their position in an elite bowl game and prevent Ohio State from contending for a College Football Playoff spot in the process. Read on to see if they can do just that.
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Wisconsin vs. Ohio State
Date: Saturday, Dec. 6
Time: 8:17 p.m. ET
TV: Fox
Odds: Wisconsin -4.5 (via Odds Shark, as of Friday night at 11:30 p.m. ET)
Preview, Keys to Game, Prediction
Melvin Gordon vs. Ohio State Front Seven
Gordon is the best running back in the country, embarrassed Nebraska for 408 yards and four touchdowns and has virtually locked up a spot in New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist. A monster game against the Buckeyes defense could propel him into the No. 1 spot with Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota.
Gordon finished the season with 2,260 rushing yards and 29 total touchdowns, and he broke the 100-yard barrier in every game but one.
Chris Trapasso of NFL.com believes Gordon is the Heisman favorite at this point:
Ohio State's rush defense is not exactly dominant, either. It gave up 228 rushing yards to Indiana's Tevin Coleman, 145 rushing yards to Minnesota's David Cobb and has struggled to swarm to the ball and attack the line of scrimmage.
The silver lining for this matchup from the Buckeyes' perspective is that they contained Gordon for 74 rushing yards in their 2013 matchup. That game was at home, but the overall team speed on the defensive end was impressive enough to slow down the superstar.
Ohio State needs a repeat performance again Saturday, otherwise Gordon will rack up more Heisman-like numbers.
Jalin Marshall Plan
Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer provided some interesting updates and quotes on receiver Jalin Marshall and what his role will be Saturday, via Bill Rabinowitz of The Columbus Dispatch and Patrick Maks of Eleven Warriors:
Marshall is a multidimensional threat who has found the end zone on the ground, through the air and by returning punts. He is also the primary quarterback in the Wildcat offense who can exploit the opposing defense through misdirection and speed.
The Buckeyes are going to need to add some wrinkles to the offense with Cardale Jones under center instead of J.T. Barrett, and Marshall may be the answer. He can throw off reverses or out of the Wildcat, take shovel passes to the house and make a play on special teams.
The Buckeyes need Marshall's A-game if they are going to pull off the upset in Indianapolis.
Joel Stave vs. Cardale Jones
Saturday's Big Ten Championship Game is not exactly a showdown between two elite quarterbacks.
The Buckeyes' signal-caller situation is no secret—they are down to the third-string quarterback after devastating injuries to Braxton Miller and Barrett. This is their final chance to impress the selection committee, and that will be much easier said than done without a proven quarterback.
Wisconsin's situation is better, but it is not exactly lighting up the scoreboard with 147.8 passing yards per game behind Joel Stave.
Both teams will force the quarterbacks to win by stuffing the box because the rushing attacks will draw most of the defensive attention. The Badgers averaged 334.3 rushing yards per game while Ohio State was not that far behind at 257.4. Which quarterback comes through with single coverage all over the field will ultimately determine the winner.
The Buckeyes have more weapons at the receiver spot with Marshall, Devin Smith and Michael Thomas, and that will be the key with so much focus on stopping the run. Look for Smith or Thomas to make a monumental play downfield in the fourth quarter to give the Buckeyes the lead for good.
Game Prediction: Ohio State 27, Wisconsin 24
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