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It’s finally here.
The B1G Championship showdown that many predicted before the start of the season actually happened. Ohio State and Wisconsin. Urban Meyer vs. Paul Chryst. Kevin Wilson’s offense vs. Jim Leonhard’s defense. All signs point to this one being a dandy.
How will this shake out? Our team of writers predicted how this one will play out:
DUSTIN SCHUTTE — Here’s a stat for you: Ohio State has been held under 200 rushing yards three times this season, and the Buckeyes were 1-2 in those games. They had enough talent to overpower UNLV, but were pummeled by Oklahoma and Iowa. Do you know what Wisconsin’s greatest strength is? Stopping the run.
The Badgers are the nation’s best at shutting things down on the ground, holding opponents to a fraction over 80 yards per game. Call me a B1G fundamentalist, call me old school, maybe even call me naïve, but running the football matters in the B1G. It’s been a cornerstone for both teams all season and will be imperative on Saturday.
I understand that J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber are running with a full head of steam right now, and J.T. Barrett is difficult to contain, but the Buckeyes still haven’t faced a defense this aggressive. Those Wisconsin linebackers — T.J. Edwards, Ryan Connelly, Leon Jacobs, etc. — are no joke.
Without an effective rushing attack, the Buckeyes struggle to score points. I think the Badgers have just enough firepower with Jonathan Taylor to pull out a win in a low-scoring game.
Wisconsin 23, Ohio State 20
GARRETT KROEGER — It is simple what needs to happen Saturday for the B1G, the conference needs Wisconsin to defeat Ohio State to fully ensure the league has a playoff team in 2017. However, every college football fan loves chaos.
Wisconsin is known for its ground and pound style of play. Hand the ball to freshman running back Jonathan Taylor on first and second down and then depending on how far away the Badgers are from the first-down marker, throw the ball on third. However, Ohio State’s defensive line is one of the best in the country, led by guys like Nick Bosa, Sam Hubbard, and Tyquan Lewis. So if the Buckeyes, who still have slim playoff chances, want to win this game, they will need to win the battle on the edge.
While Taylor has been the talk of Wisconsin’s offense all season, it doesn’t mean the Badgers don’t have good pass catchers. Troy Fumagalli, A.J. Taylor, and Danny Davis III have all been good for Wisconsin in situational opportunities. Plus, although quarterback Alex Hornibrook has had some turnover issues this year, he still can hurt a team over the top. And in Ohio State’s two losses this season (Oklahoma and Iowa), its secondary had been torched.
If the Buckeyes’ secondary does have a performance like it did against the Sooners and the Hawkeyes, I think it will be all Wisconsin. But if they show up like they did against Michigan State and Michigan, Ohio State could win a slobber knocker of a game.
Ohio State 27, Wisconsin 24
CONNOR O’GARA — I think they’re sick of it. The Wisconsin disrespect as at an all-time high heading into this one. You’ve got people like Tim Tebow and others who are clinging onto pre-2017 narratives saying that Alabama would “beat the brakes off Wisconsin” when they’ve likely never sat down and actually watched a full Badger game (the Tide actually never beat a Power 5 team with a winning record by more than 14 points this year).
This Wisconsin defense is going to come out firing. This unit is unlike any that the Buckeyes have faced this year with their ability to get pressure on the quarterback. That’s not good news for a less-than-100-percent J.T. Barrett. It’s hard to see this one being particularly high scoring because the Buckeyes have been solid against the run (the Badgers are first in FBS against the run, by the way).
To me, this comes down to a late-possession drive. Contrary to popular belief, I don’t think Ohio State imposes its will on the Badgers. And contrary to popular belief, I don’t believe the Buckeyes will earn a Playoff spot even if that happens.
Still, I think Wisconsin finds a way to surprise people and steal this one late.
Wisconsin 24, Ohio State 21
Connor O'Gara is the senior national columnist for Saturday Tradition. He's a member of the Football Writers Association of America. After spending his entire life living in B1G country, he moved to the South in 2015.