COLUMBUS, OH – As the 13th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers invade The Horseshoe in hopes of spoiling the third-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes national title hopes, can Wisconsin do the unthinkable and shock Ohio State in Columbus?
Wisconsin, currently second in the Big Ten West Division one game behind the undefeated Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-0) boasts perhaps the top running back in the country in 5’11, 220-pound Jonathan Taylor, became the fastest player to ever run for 5,000 yards in FBS history during the Badgers’ 24-23 shocking loss at Illinois.
Clearly the main focal point of the Badgers’ trademark power run game, Taylor hopes to atone for his subpar game vs. Ohio State in the 2017 B1G title game in which he rushed for 41 yards on 15 carries in a 27-21 loss to the Buckeyes. Taylor also hopes to not add his name to the list of past Badger running backs that have has mixed results vs. the Buckeyes over the years.
A classic match-up of power running vs. a tough defense, the Badgers have a history of playing Ohio State tough, especially in Columbus, and have had some success in the past. In the case of first-year head coach Ryan Day, he’s hoping that it is just that—the past, and not the present.
For Ohio State, they feature perhaps the nation’s most complete team on offense, defense and special teams led by likely first-rounders on defense in DE Chase Young and CB Jeffrey Okudah and an explosive offense led by QB Justin Fields, RB J.K. Dobbins and potential first-round pick in WR Binjimen Victor, the Buckeyes have too many horse for the Badgers to keep up with.
if Wisconsin can keep Ohio State off the field, control the clock and establish Taylor, then they have a chance in pulling off college football’s biggest upset. If the Badgers fail to any of the above and they allow Fields to connect on big plays downfield and extend them with his legs and allow Dobbins o break off a couple of big runs, then it will be another long day in Columbus for Wisconsin.
Prediction: Ohio State 41 Wisconsin 21